MORE than 100 people were caught drink or drug driving in Bradford district over the festive period, according to new police figures.

As part of a force-wide crackdown on the crime, 465 drivers were taken off the region's roads, marking a 64 per cent rise in drink and drug driving in West Yorkshire since last year.

Leeds topped the list for the most arrests at 164 while Bradford came in second.

Kirklees arrested 59 people meanwhile 67 were arrested in Calderdale.

West Yorkshire Police ran its annual #WYPTheCost campaign - highlighting the potential cost of getting behind the wheel under the influence - from December 1 to January 1, 2020.

There were offenders of all all ages with the youngest person arrested just 16 while the oldest was 81 years of age.

Chief inspector Lisa Kirkland, head of West Yorkshire Police’s roads policing unit, said, "for the first time", the force had seen nearly as many drivers arrested on suspicion of driving after taking drugs as there were arrested for being over the legal drink drive limit.

The chief inspector said: "These drivers are facing the new year with the prospect of losing their driving licence and potentially their freedom. This is nothing though compared to a family facing a lifetime full of milestones that a loved one won’t be at.

"As one of my officers eloquently put it: ‘a bit of pot can cost you a lot.'

"Of the hundreds of drivers that we have arrested during our December enforcement campaign, some will have been as a result of collisions, while others will thankfully have been stopped before their impaired driving has caused harm to themselves or others."

Police shared an emotional plea for motorists to drive safely by sharing a video with Carole Whittingham, whose son Steven died after his vehicle was hit by a driver who was under the influence of both drink and drugs.

Mrs Whittingham said: "My heart's crying all the time."

The video has been viewed over 43,000 times on Facebook.

Ms Kirkland said: “Carole’s story of the continued heartbreak for her and her family is just a snapshot of the complete devastation that an individual’s decision to drive after drinking or taking drugs can cause."

During last year’s enforcement campaign from December 1, 2018, to January 1, 2019, there were 284 arrests for drink driving and 92 arrests for drug driving.

Mark Burns-Williamson, the police and crime commissioner (PCC) for West Yorkshire, has reassured drivers that more dedicated roads policing officers are working on the roads of West Yorkshire to prevent the devastation that drink or drug driving can cause.

The police and crime commissioner has urged anyone getting in a car to "be sensible and ensure that they are safe to drive".

Mr Burns-Williamson said: "We want everyone to be safe and make the right choices, this campaign aims to raise awareness.

"I hope that this initiative will help to underline what is important at this time of year, and it certainly isn’t making potentially dangerous decisions putting other people’s lives at risk to drive whilst unfit or under the influence.”