MORE than 3,200 drivers were stopped in an early summer drink-drive campaign across the county.

But out of the 732 who were breathalysed between June 19-30, 48 tested positive or refused to give a sample.

Blackburn, Darwen Hyndburn and Ribble Valley had the second highest percentage of drink-drivers in the county.

The campaign was run in conjuction with the County Council's "Together we can make the Difference" scheme and the Drink/Link initiative was used during the festive road safety campaign.

In the Eastern police division, covering Blackburn, Darwen, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley, 420 vehicles were stopped.

Of those, 83 drivers were asked to give a breath test and 10 refused or provided a positive sample.

In Pennine division, made up of Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale, 97 drivers were asked for samples and four refused or tested positive.

Chief Inspector Ian Bell head of Lancashire police road safety unit said: "Twenty years ago 3,000 people were killed in accidents involving drink drivers and the national figure is now as low as 500 per year. The message is getting across and the vast percentage of drivers do not drink and drive. The problem we have is that there is a sizeable minority of people who are still putting other road users lives at risk by drinking and driving.

"This small core of people are still continuing to drink and drive despite the high profile publicity campaigns and roadside checks."