Police say there has been an alarming number of arrests for drink or drug driving ahead of Christmas this year.

And they say they are disappointed that the drink drive message is not getting through to some festive revellers.

There have been 15 arrests for drink or drug-related driving offences so far this month.

That works out at an average of almost one arrest a day since the start of the annual Christmas anti-drink drive campaign.

It’s up on the 14 arrests for drink driving offences recorded for the whole of December last year. Only seven arrests were made in the 2016 festive campaign.

Among those who appeared in court this week was the driver of a car which ended up on its roof after hitting a parked car on Malvern Road last Sunday.

James Brian John Arbuthnott, aged 68, of Willaston Crescent, Douglas, admitted charges of drink-driving, driving while disqualified and two counts of having a defective tyre.

He will be sentenced on January 29.

In another case, a motorist who drink-drove after a work Christmas party was banned from driving for 30 months.

Police said there is no breakdown specifically for drug driving but the figure was ’pretty high’ and an obvious concern’.

A spokesman said: ’We are well into the annual Christmas anti-drink drive campaign and the message is still not getting through.

’On average police have arrested one person a day for drink or drug driving since the start of the campaign.

’We have continued to have some people ignoring the drink drive message and getting themselves arrested. This then results in court, a ban and a fine.

’Other consequences can follow.

’We have also seen a number of arrests of people who have had too much to drink and committed offences they normally wouldn’t. Again this can have long term consequences.’

He said the message is simple - plan your way home after a drink.

’There are buses, there are taxis, there are friends or family that can get you home. Don’t go anywhere near a motor vehicle when you have had a drink,’ he said.