YOUNGER motorists are more likely to ignore the important drink drive message than any other age group, a new police study has shown.

Almost half of those arrested for drink-driving offences during the festive period in Bromsgrove were between 21 and 30 years of age.

Sergeant John Roberts, of West Mercia police, said: "It is particularly concerning that younger motorists are ignoring the devastating consequences drinking and driving can have for them, their family and friends, as well as for other road users."

However, Sgt Roberts welcomed the overall fall in the total number of people caught drink driving over Christmas and New Year. In 2002 25 per cent of drivers tested positive, falling to nine per cent in 2003.

The figures for the force area show at total of 77 people out of 864 motorists breathalysed were arrested for drink driving between December 18 and January 2.

Of those breathalysed, 187 drivers were tested after being involved in a collision. Seventeen of these motorists gave a positive breath test or failed to provide a specimen. Those found guilty of drink driving could expect a driving ban of at least 12 months, fines of up to £5,000 and the possibility of six months in jail.

Sgt Roberts added: "While we welcome the fall in the number of people caught drink driving during the festive period, clearly there is still a hard core of motorists who fail to heed all the warnings. They continue to endanger their own and other people's lives by getting behind the wheel after drinking.

"Drink drive enforcement is year round activity for West Mercia, twenty four hours a day, seven days a week. We will not be letting up our enforcement and our message to motorists is that if you are drinking, don't drive."

Officers will continue to examine the latest figures to try and understand the profile of motorists who continue to flout the law.