DRINK drive arrests increased over the festive period, Thames Valley Police figures show.

County police arrested 15 more motorists, 77, between December 1, 2011 and January 1, 2012 than the same time the previous year.

Across Thames Valley 299 drivers were arrested for being over the legal alcohol limit, compared to 261 the year before.

Yet there was a 57 per cent drop in the number of woman arrested across the region, 55 compared to 35 in the previous campaign.