SUFFOLK: Police chiefs today told of their anger after the percentage of positive breath tests during the festive season trebled over a four-year period .

As the Evening Star continues to Name and Shame offenders it has been revealed Suffolk police carried out 1,118 stops in the run-up to Christmas 2010 and 102 motorists – or nine per cent – were found to be over the limit.

This compares to December, 2009, when nearly 7pc of the 1,416 drivers breath tested were positive.

In 2008, there were 3,858 drivers stopped and 8pc, 310 of them, were over the legal alcohol limit, while in 2007, just 3pc of the 3,069 tested were positive.

The police’s month-long drink-drive initiative began on December 1, when the Star also launched its annual campaign.

On average, about three motorists were caught over the drink-drive limit every day.

Suffolk police figures also reveal the worst offenders were men over the age of 25 – with 11.1pc failing a breath test.

Meanwhile, only 3.3pc of tests conducted on those between the ages of 16 and 19 were found to be positive. Officers breathalysed 409 drivers following collisions and 31 gave positive readings – a 2.3pc increase on last year.

Chief Inspector Ady Dawson said that he was angry motorists continued to “dice with death” and risk everything for alcohol.

“We set out to eradicate this scourge from society, but we can only do so much,” he said. “We’re truly disappointed in this attitude shown by a significant number of people who don’t seem to care about risking their lives, their job, or social embarrassment.”