POLICE arrested 19 people on suspicion of drink or drug driving this weekend.

Officers patrolling North Yorkshire's roads made the first nine arrests between 5pm on Friday and 5am on Saturday, taking the total number of arrests for drink or drug driving in December to 71.

Eleven people have already been fast-tracked to appear before magistrates and have been banned from the roads for between 12 and 36 months.

So far, 15 people were arrested in York, five in Selby, 16 in the Harrogate district, 15 in Hambleton and Richmondshire, 11 in Scarborough and Ryedale, seven in Craven and two in Whitby.

Deputy Chief Constable Tim Madgwick said: "The number of arrests over the weekend was staggering and quite frankly extremely disappointing. Despite repeated warnings about the dangers of drink and drug driving it is hard to believe that people still find it acceptable to get behind the wheel while intoxicated.

"I have said it many times before, the safe limit is zero. If you are going out intending to have a drink make sure you arrange some alternative transport to get home. Seventy one people have been arrested on suspicion of drink or drug driving since our campaign began on 1 December and it is extremely fortunate that none of these people have caused a tragedy."

During last year’s Christmas drink and drug driving campaign, officers made 118 arrests between December 1 and January 1.