A lack of public transport in rural areas is worsening a drink-drive epidemic, the transport minister has suggested.

New figures reveal that more motorists are charged with driving over the legal alcohol limit in largely rural areas.

Results of Freedom of Information requests indicate that Lincolnshire prosecutes the most drivers per population, followed by North Wales, Warwickshire, Dyfed-Powys and North Yorkshire.

It has prompted calls for better public transport in rural areas and warnings to anyone tempted to drink and drive over the festive period.

John Hayes, the Conservative MP for South Holland and Deepings, in Lincolnshire, suggested that the problem of rural drink-driving is being "compounded" by a lack of sufficient public transport in the worst offending regions.