A TOTAL of 281 people were arrested for drink-driving in the Thames Valley during a festive season crackdown by police – a slight increase on last year’s figures.

The ‘Is it worth the risk?’ campaign ran from December 1 to New Year’s Day.

Chief Inspector for Hampshire Constabulary and Thames Valley Roads Policing Unit, Henry Parsons said: "It’s worrying that some people are still making the wrong choices, deciding to drink and drive when there are alternatives available.

"Drink-driving is dangerous and it kills or seriously injures many people each year, devastating families.

"I’m grateful for the public support for this campaign that has helped us to be in the right places, at the right times to make these arrests. We’ll continue to target drink drivers every single day of the year, not just during campaign periods. It isn’t worth the risk."

Police confirmed 231 men were arrested – a six percent increase on last year’s figure of 218 – and 50 women - a 17 percent decrease in arrests of women, down from 60 last year).

In total, 161 of the arrested people have been charged, with 82 individuals bailed and 38 people released with no further action.

This year’s arrests show a one percent increase on the 278 arrests made during the same period in 2012.