More than 300 people were arrested for drink or drug-driving throughout the Christmas period in the Thames Valley.

Thames Valley Police and Hampshire Constabulary arrested a total of 538 people for drink and/or drug-driving during their Christmas campaign, which ran from December 1 to January 1.

In Thames Valley 316 arrests were made, compared to 325 the previous year, while in Hampshire the figure was 222 – compared to 215 last year.

This year saw an increase in the number of arrests -80 - for drug-driving across both force areas - a 63 per cent rise on the figure of 49 for last year's campaign.

The news comes as a 22-year-old man from Chalfont St Giles, Samuel Holmes, was convicted of drink-driving after crashing a car into a barn in Seer Green on December 27.

Roads Policing Ch Insp Henry Parsons said: "It's disappointing that we continue to find so many people drink-driving and drug-driving.

“The effects of it are so dangerous and it's not worth the risk - there is no excuse for it.

"These figures show that we remain committed to targeting those who cause death on our roads and make the roads less safe than they should be."