DRINK and drug driving among under 25s was down 23 per cent on last year, say Met Police figures for June.

But young drivers still made up almost a quarter of the total number of people arrested for drink and drug driving.

Between June 2 and 30 police arrested 197 people aged under 25 - compared with 255, in June last year.

However the total number of people of all ages, arrested for drug and drink driving, fell by just three per cent - from 907 to 876.

Police efforts to tackle the problem of drink and drug driving are reflected in the rising number of people given breath tests.

In June this year 8094 were tested compared with 5053 in the same period last year.

And more than a third of those tested were aged under 25.

Police say the figures justify the extra effort to prevent drink and drug driving among the under 25s.

The Met traffic unit's Chief Superintendent David Snelling, said: "There's been a clear drop in the number of arrests made among the under 25s.

"I hope this means that our message is starting to get through to young people.

"However, the number of young people arrested still makes up nearly a quarter of the total arrests, which is cause for concern.

"People who drink and drive or drive under the influence of drugs are not only putting others in danger but also themselves. "