More than 70 people have been arrested in Northern Ireland for alleged drink driving offences over the weekend.

The arrests came as police stepped up their campaign to reduce deaths on the roads in the province.

During an eight-hour operation on Friday night, police made 37 arrests while 34 people were detained on Saturday.

If the rate continues there are 200 people listening to me this morning who will not be alive at Christmas Duncan McCausland Assistant chief constable

All were arrested for allegedly drinking and driving.

Assistant Chief Constable Duncan McCausland said drivers must take extra care.

"The last few weeks have been devastating for the whole community of Northern Ireland not least for the families of those who have lost loved ones," he said.

"The sad fact is that if the rate continues at the level that we are experiencing, there are 200 people listening to me this morning who will not be alive at Christmas.

"Everyone has a responsibility to help reduce this total."

On average, seven drivers a day face similar charges.

The campaign, known as Operation Viper, is the Police Service of Northern Ireland's twin-pronged approach to educate and enforce.

The four areas they are concentrating on are: speeding, drinking and driving, not wearing seatbelts and driving recklessly.

The aim is to reduce deaths and serious injuries on the roads.

On Sunday, a woman died following a road traffic accident in County Down.

She was Shelly Nyrene Rankin, 18, from Gransha Road in Dromara.

Her car hit a tree on the Waringsford Road, near Banbridge shortly before 2300 GMT.

Her death brings to 28 the death toll on the roads so far this year.

The figure is almost double for the same period last year.