The busiest day for police giving breath tests was on New Year's Day

Kent Police statistics show that 306 drivers tested positive over a four-week period ending on 2 January, compared with 263 in 2002/03.

Police said the rise was because more breath tests were carried out in the county this year - 6,325 compared with 5,831 last year.

The busiest day for police giving the tests was New Year's Day, when 43 out of 894 drivers across Kent tested positive.

Positive tests out of total per area Canterbury 30/893 Kent motorways 19/713 Kent ports 0/16 Maidstone 11/863 Medway 84/373 North Kent 30/324 South East Kent 42/1,242 Swale 14/215 Thanet 21/535 Weald 32/408 West Kent 23/743

Inspector Paul Fotheringham, of Kent Police, said: "This year we have caught more people who drink and drive, stopping them putting themselves and others at increased risk of harm.

"We have tested more people this year. This shows that there is still a hardcore of people engaging in this kind of anti-social behaviour.

"Too many people wrongly believe that they know their own limit and take unacceptable risks.

"We will continue to target this hardcore by testing, arresting and bringing them to court."

'Irresponsible people'

The highest number of positive tests - 84 out of 373 - was recorded in Medway.

Superintendent David Pryde, of Medway Police, said the figures were both encouraging and disappointing.

He said: "They are encouraging because only a small number of drivers were breath tested in comparison to other areas."

But he added: "The increase on last year must be considered to be a disappointment as it reflects the small number of irresponsible people who believe they are above the law."

"I consider this year's campaign to be a success and the message should be clear for the rest of the year - if you drink and drive you will get caught," he said.