A SUMMER blitz on drink-driving on Lancashire roads has been hailed as the reason the number of drink-related accidents has fallen to a four-year low.

The dramatic decrease has been attributed to the high profile campaign run across the county in August.

Just 10 accidents where alcohol was involved were recorded this summer compared with 24 in 1998, 28 in 1997 and 34 in 1996.

The force's road safety co-ordinator Ian Bell said: "During the campaign many thousands of motorists were stopped at roadside check points throughout the

county.

"The purpose of the check points was to deter drink-driving.

"Some members of the public did express concern that we were carrying out early morning spot checks but a number of motorists who had consumed alcohol the night before were still showing signs of it the following day.

"Two drivers were arrested for providing positive breath tests at 8am."

But Mr Bell said he was extremely pleased with the drop in drink related traffic accidents as well as the level of support for the campaign.

He added: "Over all during the month-long campaign collisions were down, which in real terms means many people will have been saved from serious injury."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.