CLEVELAND Police have come under fire after a dramatic fall in the number of breath tests carried out to trap drink-drivers.

Liberal Democrats MPs described as "very worrying" the revelation that the annual tally of tests had plunged from 34,200 to just 11,000 in four years.

The 68 per cent decline was the largest of any force in England and Wales - and more than twice the national fall of 30 per cent over the same period.

The figures were revealed days after the Cleveland force pledged a crackdown, following an increase in positive tests over the Christmas period, compared to the previous year.

Yet, according to Home Office figures, Cleveland has steadily cut the number of tests over the four years to 2002, the last year for which statistics are available.

North Yorkshire (down 26 per cent) and Northumbria (down three per cent) are also carrying out fewer tests than in 1998, but Durham (up 28 per cent) has stepped up its programme.

However, of the three other local forces, only Northumbria carried out more tests in 2002 than Cleveland did.

A Cleveland Police spokeswoman said the force no longer adopted a "blanket approach" to testing in order to target the hardcore who continued to drink-drive.

She said: "We target specific areas where we know there is the likelihood that drivers will flout the drink-driving laws, and in that we have been successful.

"It should be noticed that, while the overall number of tests has fallen, the percentage of positive tests has increased."

But John Thurso, the LibDem transport spokesman, insisted the evidence showed carrying out more tests produced more positive results.

And he said the number of tests had plummeted at the same time as a 16 per cent rise nationwide in the number of accidents involving drunk drivers.

Mr Thurso added: "These statistics are very worrying. Breath tests are a vital component of preventing drink-driving

"Taking into consideration that accidents involving illegal levels of alcohol have increased since 1997, it is quite surprising that the number of breath tests is on the decline.

"The Government is failing to address the reality of drink-driving. Breath testing is fundamental if we are to mitigate against the danger posed by those who choose to drink and drive."