The summer months pose the most dangerous time for drink-drivers taking to the roads and wrecking lives.

Despite an increasing number of arrests of drink-drivers there has been an increase in Sussex in the number of fatal and serious crashes due to intoxicated drivers.

The Argus launched its Summer Road Safety Campaign last week in a bid to curb the number of accidents on Sussex roads during the school holidays.

And persuading motorists not to drink and drive in the hot summer months is one of the key concerns of campaign organisers Sussex Police, Brighton and Hove Council, East Sussex County Council, West Sussex County Council and sponsors car firm Caffyns.

The Argus, in conjunction with Caffyns, will be handing out pens, T-shirts and toy bugs over the next five weeks.

Despite a national reduction in the number of drink-drive related crashes the figures for Sussex are rising, with June, August, October and November proving the most dangerous months.

Male drivers under the age of 35 pose the biggest threat with men being eight times more likely to be involved in a drink-drive fatal crash than women.

Last year in Sussex there were 597 casualties from drink-related incidents, including 14 deaths and 130 seriously injured.

By February this year three people had already died through drink-driving and a further 19 seriously injured.

While campaigns at Christmas time are still going strong it is during the summer months when pedestrians, cyclists and fellow motorists face death and destruction on the road from alcohol-fuelled drivers.

PC Ian Bond, road casualty reduction officer, said: "During the summer you generally get more arrests for drink-driving than during the whole Christmas period.

"Through successive drink-drive campaigns at Christmas we have almost stamped out the problem at that time but during the summer people have barbecues and a pint at lunchtime and don't appreciate they are consuming alcohol throughout an afternoon and then get in a car and drive."

He said police would urge people to be more aware of the amount of alcohol they were drinking while out in the summer sunshine and partying with friends.