POLICE say they were forced to use a stunning device while arresting an alleged drink driver on a major road in North Yorkshire.

North Yorkshire Police officers arrested a man on suspicion of drink driving on the A64. Officers pulled the vehicle over near Malton yesterday (August 21) and say the driver blew double the limit in a roadside breath test. However, he resisted arrest and became violent, the force says.

A stun gun, a device that fires an electrical charge, was used so he could be safely restrained without any further risk to officers or himself.

The driver, a man in his 30s from Bradford, was arrested on suspicion of drink driving and resisting arrest.

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire said: "We only use taser as a very last resort and it’s not activated very often in North Yorkshire – 31 times last year.

"There’s a strict procedure we follow, which includes recording its use every time. In fact, we record it even if it’s been drawn and not activated.

"Thankfully, nobody was seriously injured during the incident."