MORE than 100 drivers were found to be over the limit during Essex Police’s 2012 Summer Anti-Drink Drive campaign.

A total of 110 (4.8%) out of the 2,250 drivers stopped and breathalysed during June were found to be driving over the legal alcohol limit or refused or failed to provide a sample.

Of those found to be over the limit, 83 (75%) were men and 27 (25%) were women.

A total of 15 (14%) were aged under 25 and 95 (86%) were aged 25 and over.

This year’s campaign ran at the same time as the European Football Championships and officers were out in force across the county.

Last year’s campaign, which ran throughout the month of June, found the same amount of drivers over the limit.

Of those 110, 87 were men and 23 were women. A total of 42 were aged under 25 and 68 were aged over 25.

Essex Police has stepped up road checks in towns across the county with bustling night life and rural areas where some drivers believe they have less chance of getting caught drunk behind the wheel.

In the run up to the campaign, Essex Police made a plea to drivers, their families, friends and members of the public to take responsibility by reporting drink drivers to Essex Police or anonymously to Crimestoppers.

During the campaign, residents were kept up to date with how many people had been arrested for drink driving with an online totaliser on the Essex Police website www.essex.police.uk/drinkdrive.

Adam Pipe, casualty reduction manager for Essex Police, said: "Every year I am disappointed to see that some people continue to drink and drive.

"They believe themselves to be above the law and put innocent lives at risk by getting behind the wheel under the influence.

"This year our campaign was focused on intelligence-driven areas of concern so although we tested slightly fewer drivers there were more positive results.

"Our Summer Anti-Drink Drive campaign may now have come to an end but our efforts to bring drink drivers to justice will continue.

"The community that we serve must know who these individuals are and we would strongly urge people to report them to Essex Police or to Crimestoppers anonymously. Picking up the phone could save a life.

"Our message remains unchanged – if you are found to be driving while over the limit you will be arrested and put before the courts.”