ONE of North Yorkshire's top cops has hit out after figures showed drink driving is now more common in summer than at Christmas.

The results of a week-long police safety campaign across the UK and Europe also show drink driving may be on the rise.

Police in 21 countries took part in an operation last month. In the UK, 11,405 drivers were stopped with almost eight per cent (906) found to be over the alcohol limit.

Adam Briggs, North Yorkshire's Deputy Chief Constable, is the Association of Chief Police Officers' head of European Road Policing.

He said: "We are determined to get the message home that drink driving is unacceptable at any time of the year.

"These results illustrate why we must be vigilant. We will carry out checks day and night throughout the year, backed up by intensive week-long campaigns like this one."

The figures showed a large percentage increase compared with a similar week-long campaign held in the run-up to Christmas 2006. That campaign saw 31,451 checked with only 4.48 per cent proving positive.

Co-ordinated by TISPOL, the European Traffic Police Network, the campaign saw 692,187 drivers across the continent checked for alcohol with 2.83 per cent (19,597) proving positive.

A TISPOL spokesman said: "This marks a substantial increase in the number of drink drivers caught when compared with similar campaigns both last summer and Christmas."

The Christmas 2006 campaign saw 738,853 drivers checked in the week leading up to Christmas, with 2.11 per cent (15,593) proving positive.

A similar week-long campaign last June saw 587,146 drivers checked and 2.18 per cent (12,819) had positive results.

TISPOL president Eddy Greif said the results were of great concern.

He said: "The rise in the number being caught could be down to police being better able to spot drink drivers, but it could also suggest that drink driving is on the increase.

"Whichever it is, the fact that so many drink drivers were caught in a single week is a matter for great concern.

Police in York and Selby have now launched Operation Capable, which is aimed at tackling the number of people killed and seriously injured on the area's roads.

Officers will be focusing on drink drivers in the evenings as part of the operation.