OLDER drink drivers are on the decrease in Lancashire according to the latest data.

The number of over 50s charged with the offence dropped in the county from 299 people in 2011 to 245 last year.

The information, which was revealed in a freedom of information request, showed that only more people in the 66 to 70-year-old category were caught in 2012 than in the previous year, up three to 21.

The number of drivers under the age of 50 caught drink driving decreased from 1,414 in 2011 to 1,333 in 2012 but represented an increase from 1,270 in 2010.

County chief inspector and head of road policing Debbie Howard said: “It is encouraging to see our approach to the issue is working with the number of people failing breath tests reducing year on year. Although the greater proportion of people who fail drink drive tests are under 25s, we police the county's roads day-in, day-out and we will always take action against anyone we suspect of flouting the law, regardless of age.”