A ROW has erupted after new figures revealed the number of breath tests in Lancashire has halved since 1997.

Just days before police in the county embark on their annual drink-driving purge in the run-up to Christmas, the Home Office confirmed fewer people were being breathalysed than seven years ago.

That has led critics to hit out at police, saying the force is more concerned with speed cameras than catching motorists who drink and drive.

But police said the figures simply highlight the success of drink driving campaigns. And they stressed that known drink drivers were now targeted instead of being randomly weeded out.

The Liberal Democrats, who obtained the figures from Police Minister Hazel Blears, have criticised the reduction, claiming drink drivers may be getting away with their dangerous - and potentially fatal - crime.

And Roger Vincent, from safety pressure group RoSPA, said: "RoSPA is very concerned that in Lancashire and nationally the number of breath tests have fallen over recent years yet over the same period the number of people killed through drink driving accidents has increased.

"Recently the House of Commons Transport Committee highlighted concerns about this and we believe that there needs to be a high-profile police presence against drink driving.

"If we don't have that, drivers will start to think they have less chance of being breathalysed and can get away with drink driving."

The figures show that in 1997 - when Labour came to power - there were 21,300 breath tests conducted by Lancashire Constabulary and that by 2002, the latest figures available, that had more than halved to just 10,600.

They also show that during that period there had been a 44 per cent reduction in the number of positive tests from 2,769 to 1,550.

Liberal Democrat transport spokesman John Thurso said: "These statistics are very worrying. Breath tests are a vital component of preventing drink driving."

However Hyndburn Labour MP Greg Pope welcomed the figures and said: "I think this is the result of progress. It is now socially unacceptable to drink and drive.

"We are reduced to a hard core who are well known to the police so there is no need to make as many breath tests."

But Ribble Valley Tory MP Nigel Evans said: "Lancashire police have invested so much money in static and mobile speed cameras, there aren't enough officers actually on the road. All they are interested in is raking in cash from speed cameras."

Chief Inspector Tracie O'Gara, head of Road Policing at Lancashire Constabulary, said: "Our approach to breath-testing is intelligence-led.

"We target individuals/ areas as a result of intelligence. We run campaigns on directed activity."