MORE than 300 people tested positive in drink-drive tests conducted by Kent Police over Christmas and New Year.

Figures released by Kent Police reveal that 306 tests proved positive, compared with 263 the previous year.

However, more tests were carried out this year– 6,325 compared to 5,831 in 2002 and police chiefs say the underlying trend is stable.

Of the 6,325 tests, 1,151 were carried out on drivers after crashes and of these 43 were positive. All concerned were arrested.

The highest number of positive results, 84 ,was recorded in Medway, where police tested 373 drivers. That represents more than a fifth of all drivers.

The second highest number of positive tests was in South East Kent, incorporating Dover, Folkestone and Ashford. In these areas, there were 42 positive results out of 1,242 tests.

Drivers in Maidstone appeared to heed the message not to drink-drive. There, just 11 drivers tested positive out of 863 tests – the lowest number in any part of the county and 50 per cent lower than 2002.

All tests were carried out over a four-week period starting at the beginning of December and ending on January 2.

The busiest day for Kent Police was New Year’s Day when nearly 900 drivers were tested, 43 of which were positive.

Inspector Paul Fotheringham, of Kent Police, said: “We have tested more people this year, but the percentage of those testing positive is 4.8 per cent, which is in line with figures from recent years.

"This shows that there is still a hardcore of people engaging in this kind of anti-social behaviour. Too many people wrongly believe that they ‘know their own limit’ and take unacceptable risks.

"We will continue to target this hardcore by testing, arresting and bringing them to court.”