About one-in-five drivers caught in Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Shropshire in the past year were found to be over the limit in the morning.

Figures for the West Mercia police region also showed an increase in the total number of drink-drivers in 2005.

Some 1,495 people were caught, an increase of 119 on the previous year.

Because pubs are opening later, people are drinking into the early hours Jenny Wynn, drink-drive educator

More than half of those caught attended an 18-hour rehabilitation course aimed at educating drink-drivers about the dangers involved.

Jenny Wynn, Director of the TTC Group, which runs the education courses said:

"Drink driving is not going away. People are still getting behind the wheel of a car after drinking alcohol."

About 20% of drivers who attended the rehabilitation course had been caught in the morning, the TTC Group said.

"More drivers are likely to be at risk as a result of the increase in pub opening hours unless they are educated about alcohol," said Ms Wynn.