Northwest drink drive figures up

The police say 45 people were detected in the Northwest during the PSNI's winter drink drive operation.

The figure includes those who were unfit to drive or who were unable to, or refused to, give a sample.

During last year's operation 43 people were detected.

Assistant Chief Constable, Duncan McCausland, said it was "astounding" that drivers still risked killing or injuring themselves in the worst driving conditions in living memory.

"Some people just think the risk doesn't apply to them and they are above the law," he said.

"The individuals we have detected will be put before the courts and they will lose their licence."

During the operation, the police stopped and performed breath tests on 4,357 drivers across Northern Ireland.

Total detections were down on last year but 364 people failed the tests.