The number of "selfish" young drink-drivers who tested positive when breathalysed over the Christmas period in Surrey has doubled compared to a year ago.

A total of 1,564 breath tests were carried out by police between December 1 and January 1, with 69 people testing positive for alcohol - nearly 4.5 per cent of the total number of motorists breathalysed.

A year ago three per cent tested positive.

The number of those under-25s who failed the test was double that in 2011.

Duncan Brown, head of road safety and traffic management at Surrey Police, said: "It is disappointing to see any rise in the number of drivers who tests positive for alcohol and we will continue to target the selfish small minority who drink and drive on our roads without a thought for other road users, themselves and their families.

"It seems young people are still prepared to risk drinking and driving.

"These seasonal figures also demonstrate that the drivers who top the latest drink drive league for the total number of failed breath tests are those in the 25 to 34 year age group.

"Also shown to be disproportionately represented in the breath test failure rate were those individuals within the 55 to 64 year age group.

"Clearly there is work to be done to engage with both these groups of motorists who need to be specifically targeted to address their driving behaviours."

Mr Brown said the safest group of drivers tested were women.

He added: "The group which seems to be most aware of the dangers of drink-driving and to heed the preventative messages are women, representing just over a quarter of failed breath tests provided during the initiative."