Drivers face breathalyser checks

Drivers in Cumbria are being stopped and breathalysed as part of a seasonal crackdown on drink driving.

Cumbria Police in South Lakes and Barrow are carrying out static checks from this weekend and throughout the festive season.

The force says it is concerned about the level of those killed and injured on the county's roads during the year.

Last week, it released figures showing the number of people killed on Cumbrian roads during 2004 had reached 52.

Chief Superintendent Garry Horlacher said: "We hope these checks as well as enforcing the law will reinforce the message that drivers should not drink.

"It is not our intention to inconvenience the driving public too much but we are concerned that people are not heeding the drink drive message.

"I am sure that attempts to reduce the number of needless road deaths has the support of the community.

"These static police road checks will continue after the current campaign as police in South Cumbria are determined that drivers will heed the drink drive message all year round."