They carried out 5,190 breath-tests since launching the road safety blitz, Operation Anvil, nearly five months ago; 160 drivers found to be over the legal drink-drive limit.

This is a failure rate of just over three per cent but senior officers maintain the figures reveal a worrying trend as motorists flout the drink-drive laws.

Inspector Dave Brown, head of the force's strategic roads policing unit, said: "Drink-driving continues to be an unacceptable menace on our roads that jeopardises the safety of law-abiding motorists and blights the lives of a significant number of people.

"We don't want to stop people from enjoying a night out or a summer barbecue, but we want people to do it safely and responsibly. That means staying sober and alert if driving.

"As police officers, along with our colleagues in the fire and ambulance service, we are fully aware of the consequences of drink driving and the lives that are wrecked as a result. That is why we take a zero tolerance approach to these offences."

In June the UK was named as being among the worst European nations for drink-driving.