A senior Scottish police officer has warned of an "alarming" increase in people driving while over the legal alcohol limit.

Derrick Scougal, Assistant Chief Constable of Fife Constabulary, voiced concern about a record number of positive tests in the force area in a single month.

The force said 82 drivers flouted the law on drink-driving in the month of August.

Mr Scougal said it was possible that the high total meant police were only "scratching at the surface" of the problem, despite a series of publicity efforts aimed at reinforcing warnings about the risks.

What gives us perhaps the most concern is that more and more of these people are below the age of 25

Chief Inspector Tom Ewing

He said: "These statistics might be seen to show that we are making a tremendous difference by removing so many offenders from the roads, but I would suggest that the stark reality is that there are so many actually out there that they are easy to catch.

"The big question is, therefore, if it really is like shooting fish in a barrel, what can we do to redress this imbalance before more lives are ruined or even lost?"

The Fife force's head of traffic matters, Chief Inspector Tom Ewing, said his officers have caught more than 400 drink drivers since the beginning of April.

Mr Ewing said: "What gives us perhaps the most concern is that more and more of these people are below the age of 25."

Police repeated the warning that anyone convicted of drink-driving faces an automatic 12-month ban, with the offence recorded on their licence for the next 10 years.