THE number of drink-related traffic accidents on Lancashire roads fell to its lowest level in four years this summer.

The dramatic decrease has been attributed to the Constabulary's high-profile anti drink-drive campaign, which ran throughout August.

Ten accidents were recorded, in which alcohol was a contributory factor, compared with 24 in 1998 - a drop of 58 per cent.

The force's road safety co-ordinator Chief Inspector Ian Bell said: "During the campaign, many thousands of motorists were stopped at roadside checkpoints throughout the county.

"Some members of the public expressed concern that we were carrying out early morning checks, but a number of motorists who had consumed alcohol the night before were still showing signs of it the following morning.

"Two drivers were arrested for providing positive breath tests at 8am."

Chief Insp Bell added: "Overall during the month-long campaign collisions were down by 21 per cent (from 547 in August 1998, to 430 this year) which, in real terms, means many people's lives were saved.

"Many others will have been saved from serious injury."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.