same period in 1997.

A total of 86 drivers were arrested on suspicion of impaired driving between July and September, with 53 failing a breathalyser test.

The failure rate showed a ten percent increase on the same timeframe during last year.

Of those stopped, 53 failed, 21 refused and 12 passed.

A Police spokesman alcohol was believed to have been a contributing factor in 19 road accidents, including two fatal crashes during the last three months.

In the preceding quarter, a similar number were arrested, following on from a rise from the first few months of the year.

Between April and June, 85 people were stopped. Of those, 56 failed the test.

That compared to a January to March figure of 53 people stopped.

HORSE AND BUGGY DRIVERS CLEAN UP THEIR ACT RAH ENV Horse and buggy drivers clean up their act Buggy drivers have cleaned up their act after a purge on dirty operators on the streets of Hamilton.

During the summer complaints were made to the Corporation of Hamilton about rogue horse and carriage drivers who were allowing their charges to deposit unwelcome mess on the streets.

But after threats by city officials, there has been an improvement in the situation.

Corporation of Hamilton Secretary Roger Sherratt said the problem had just about disappeared and he reported that his department had not received any complaints in recent times.

The messy issue arose in June when a minority of buggy drivers were allowing their horses to discharge droppings on the streets, instead of in the special diapers attached to the harness.

Some were not fitting the diaper at all or not aligning it correctly to catch the waste.

The issue led to complaints from residents and tourists, who disliked the mess left on the main streets around the city centre.

PARKS DIRECTOR COOK IS IN STABLE CONDITION HTH Parks director Cook is in stable condition Bermuda Parks director Bill Cook is still recovering in hospital more than a week after he suffered a stroke.

Mr. Cook was described as being in a stable condition at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

The New Yorker was taken to hospital after falling ill on October 10.

Cabinet Secretary Leo Mills visited Mr. Cook at the weekend and said he was feeling much better. He did not know when he might be released.

In his absence, Candy Foggo is the director designate of the Parks Department.

POLICE LOOKING FOR MISSING CEDARBRIDGE STUDENT POL ED Police looking for missing CedarBridge student An appeal for help has been launched following the disappearance of a teenage girl.

CedarBridge student Samantha Davis, 15, was last seen over a week ago after leaving her Secret Lane, Pembroke home.

A Police statement said: "It was believed that Samantha was staying with a friend but the family have become very concerned after failing to make contact with her.'' Samantha is described as light skinned, five foot tall, weighing around 100 pounds and of medium build. She has short braided hair.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Police on 295-0011.

ELDERLY VISITOR AIRLIFTED TO US FOR TREATMENT HTH Elderly visitor airlifted to US for treatment An elderly visitor has been airlifted to the United States for treatment after collapsing in Hamilton.

The 84-year-old woman, who has not been named, was taken to the Columbia Presbyterian hospital in New York on Monday.

She suffered serious head injuries after apparently tripping on the kerb and falling to the ground on Front Street, on Sunday.

The woman, who was visiting on the Royal Viking Sun , was taken to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital before being airlifted.

HOPES TO ERECT BUILDING AT FORMER RESTAURANT PLN Hopes to erect building at former restaurant Plans have been lodged for a new office building on Serpentine Road, Hamilton.

Barbour Butterfield Holdings have applied for permission to erect a four storey facility at the former Once Upon A Table premises.

The plans include three levels of offices, basement, parking and storage areas.

Masters Limited have applied for approval to build a warehouse on Dundonald Street West.

And the Rosebud Trust -- which represents several parcels of land owned by a local family -- have renewed applications for building plans around the Island.

They are all schemes which have had permission in the past but have to be re-established because the time period has run out.

Included on the list are a residential property and landscaping on Hawkins Island, and several new dwellings on plots in Devonshire and Paget.

US COASTGUARD FIND AN OVERTURNED BOSTON WHALER RES US Coastguard find an overturned Boston Whaler US Coastguard officials are running checks on an overturned Boston Whaler found drifting three miles off St. George's.

The capsized boat was spotted by the St. George's pilot rescue boat just before 5 p.m. on Monday, three miles offshore.

There was nobody on board.

Crew on the St. George's , returning with the boat in tow, also sprang to the aid of two sailors who reported an engine fire on their craft.

The blaze was put out and the men on board were ferried ashore with the rescue crew, according to a spokesman for Harbour Radio.