Police today described as 'encouraging' the fact that only one accident in Bradford over the Christmas period involved a suspected drink-driver.

Traffic officers based in Bradford South revealed they were called to 21 collisions between December 18 and January 1 - and, as is normal practice, had breath-tested each driver.

Sergeant Keith Cluderay said 33 motorists had been tested and that only one had been found to be over the limit - putting the division's figure at just three per cent.

"I would say that these are quite encouraging," said Sgt Cluderay, although he stressed the statistics were confined to injury-resulting accidents, rather than covering drivers 'across the board.'

In Keighley, officers said their own Christmas drink-drive figures were up - but only because they now monitored a larger area.

A total of 57 breath tests were carried out over the same period through the division which covers Keighley, Bingley, Ilkley, Denholme and Shipley.

Eight of the tests proved positive and led to arrests.

Sergeant Roger Birkett said the figure was up on last year's three positive tests out of 40 but highlighted that the Keighley police division had grown under the Bradford police reorganisation in 2001. He said: "Keighley is a bigger division than it was last year now encompassing Shipley.

"This is going to make the figures look higher."

Over the Christmas period there were also 16 road accidents involving injuries within the Keighley division, he added. Bradford North, the district's other division had not compiled figures.