NEARLY 200 people were arrested on suspicion of drink-driving on Hampshire roads during December.

Latest figures revealed by Hampshire Constabulary show a total of 196 people were detained between December 1-29. That compares to 174 people during the same period in 2012.

Out of those arrested 167 were men and 29 were women. The oldest man was 82 while the youngest was 17.

Winchester and east Hampshire saw 23 arrests, while police swooped to arrest 20 people in Fareham and Gosport. A total of 35 people were arrested in the Southampton area.

There were 12 arrests in the Eastleigh and Romsey area, nine in the New Forest, and 12 on the Isle of Wight.

However it is not known if any of the arrests were made the morning after a night out.

The increase in arrests will come as a disappointment for the force on the back of its hard-hitting Is It Worth The Risk? campaign.

The campaign, which ran throughout December, focused on Evey Staley, who was killed in a car crash caused by a drink and drug driver on the Isle of Wight.

A purple ribbon became the icon of the campaign and has been worn by people and police officers across the county to raise awareness of the dangers associated with drink and drug driving.

The wreckage of the Staley family’s car was also exhibited across the county to give a sobering reminder of the impact such criminally anti-social behaviour.