FIVE drivers have been banned for a total of 12 years as part of North Yorkshire Police’s summer drink and drug driving campaign.

They are the first wave of motorists to be convicted under the month-long crackdown, which coincides with the World Cup, currently underway in Russia.

The most serious of the drink drivers to be stopped in the county was more than three and a half times the legal limit to drive.

Roads Policing Inspector Dave Barf said: “It’s absolutely disgusting that within just a few days of launching our highly-publicised summer drink and drug driving campaign, we encountered drivers who are more than three times over the limit.

“It’s difficult to comprehend why anyone thinks it’s okay to drive after drinking that much.”

He added it was encouraging to see magistrates handing out some ‘pretty tough’ driving bans as the first cases appeared in magistrates courts across the county, including in Skipton.

“People who drive under the influence need to be taken off the roads. I can say that from first-hand experience of dealing with the consequences.When you arrive on the scene of a drink drive collision, you see things you can never erase from your memory,” he said.

A total of 80 drivers have now been arrested on suspicion of drink or drug driving-related offences since the campaign began on 14 June 14.

Police are carrying out hundreds of breath tests across Craven the North Yorkshire and are performing stop checks at all times of the night and day including early mornings to detect those who are still over the limit from the night before. In addition, they are targeting known offenders and key locations. Police are asking people to report those they believe is about to drink or drug drive by calling 101.