'AWARD-winning selfish cowards' were charged with drink or drug driving over Christmas after officers carried out more than 550 breath tests.

Hundreds of routine stop checks were carried out as part of Dorset Police's annual festive campaign, which took place between Thursday, December 1 2016 and Sunday, January 1 2017.

Breath tests were also requested from all drivers involved in crashes, irrespective of whether or not a drink driving offence was suspected.

In total, Dorset Police recorded 78 arrests during the campaign – 13 of which were for driving under the influence of drugs and four for refusing to provide a sample. During the same period the previous year, 105 people were arrested and 869 breath tests were carried out.

In all, 54 people have so far been charged with a drink or drug driving-related offence as a result of the campaign, compared to 44 during the 2015 campaign.

Of those charged, 44 were men and 10 were women.

Police have thanked members of the public who supported the campaign by submitting their own messages to drink and drug drivers, which were shared on social media throughout the campaign.

One message read: "You are an award-winning selfish coward.

"Don’t be tight and pay for a taxi. Think, use the brain you were graced with.

"Your family will thank you, the families of others will thank you."

Inspector Matt Butler of the traffic unit, said: “Those charged throughout the campaign were not necessarily your ‘usual’ suspects.

"Too many people, who are otherwise law-abiding citizens, fail to consider the untold devastation that drink and drug driving can cause.

"I have been the person knocking on the door to inform relatives that their loved one has been killed as a result of a motorist who thinks it is okay to get behind the wheel while under the influence.

"This is something that I do not want to do during the festive period, or any other time of year.

"As in previous years, I would like to thank those members of the public who called us to report a drink driver. Our enforcement efforts will of course continue all year round and intelligence from the public is invaluable in keeping Dorset’s roads safe."