A THIRD of drink drivers arrested on the county’s roads in June were at least double the legal limit, North Yorkshire Police has revealed.

A force spokeswoman said that out of 98 arrests made in June, 33 drivers provided a reading of 70ug (micrograms) or more of alcohol per 100ml of breath.The legal limit of 35ug.

She said that, alarmingly, nearly 10 per cent of those arrested provided readings of 105ug or more.

“The highest reading of the campaign was provided by a 43-year-old man from Thirsk who blew 143ug,” she said.

“A total of 42 of those arrested have now been dealt with at court, with magistrates ordering thousands of pounds worth of fines to be paid and 22 years worth of driving bans being handed down.”

The news came after Operation Attention, the force campaign to stamp out drink and drug driving, came to a close.

Roads policing Sgt Andy Morton said officers remained committed all year round to getting drink and drug drivers off the road.

“The number of drivers we have arrested and prosecuted throughout June and the levels of alcohol we have found in some drivers’ systems only makes us more determined to use the resources we have available to identify, arrest and prosecute these irresponsible drivers,” he said.

“Once again I’d like to thank the members of the public who called us to report incidents of drink and drug driving, your support is invaluable and we appreciate your assistance.

“Even though the operation is over for this summer, my appeal remains – if you are aware of anyone drink or drug driving please report it to us.

“If it is happening at the time please dial 999.”