Police have corrected figures which they claimed showed a shocking number of drink drivers on our roads.

Almost one in every ten drivers stopped this summer were over the drink drive limit but yesterday police claimed the figure was one in five.

Officers breath-tested 3,646 motorists in June as part of a crackdown on drink driving across Thames Valley.

They arrested 327 drivers - or nine per cent - for failing the test or refusing to provide a sample.

By comparison last summer's campaign saw 15 per cent of drivers tested give a positive breath test and Christmas 2007 saw 14 per cent of drivers fail.

Supt Mick Doyle, head of Roads Policing, said: "Nearly one in ten drivers stopped by police during this campaign gave a positive breath test.

"It is extremely disappointing that some drivers are still choosing to ignore our warnings and think it is acceptable to put their lives and the lives of other road users at risk.

"This particular campaign has ended but we will continue with the targeted, intelligence-led policing that has led to the high numbers of drink drivers being caught recently."

A total of 1,108 drivers were tested after collisions, and 84 of these tested positive.

All drivers who provided a positive breath test or who refused or failed to provide, will face losing their licence for at least 12 months. They could also be imprisoned for six months or pay a fine of up to £5,000.

A total of 871 under 25's were breathalysed, with 85 young drivers testing positive.

Of the over 25's 2,775 were tested and 242 drivers tested positive.

Supt Doyle added: "For some time many people have thought that younger drivers have got the message about drink driving, however, these figures support recent research which demonstrates that drinking and driving is an issue for younger drivers and that the message of just how dangerous it is to drink and drive is not getting through.

"It is not difficult to avoid drink driving - take a taxi, stay at a friend's house, nominate a designated driver or just don't drink, otherwise the consequences could be disastrous.

"I would urge anyone who sees someone getting into a vehicle after drinking to call police on 999 immediately. If you have information about suspected drink drivers, call the Police Enquiry Centre on 0845 8 505 505, or if you don't want to speak to police, the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."

Police are unable to release drink-driving figures for Oxfordshire due to a new system of collecting the data.