GLOUCESTERSHIRE Police made four arrests in the Cotswolds during the final nine days of its campaign to eradicate Christmas drink drivers.

The Christmas drink-drive clampdown, which saw 18 arrests in Gloucestershire between December 23 and January 2, had been targeting motorists who got behind the wheel while being over the limit.

Rick Thornley, 29, of Delphi Way in Hampshire, was arrested on Station Road in Stow-on-the-Wold on Monday, December 23 and will appear before magistrates at Cheltenham on February 14.

Roland Edwin Ernest Edmonds, 58, of Aldsworth Close in Fairford, was arrested on Christmas Day and will have a hearing at Cheltenham Magistrates Court on February 20.

Donna Sinton, 50, of The Waterloo in Cirencester, was arrested on Saturday, December 28 in Cirencester and will appear at Cheltenham Magistrates Court on February 14.

Wilhelm Gerhardus Englebrecht, 28, from Wyck Rissington, was arrested on Park Street in Stown on Sunday, December 29 and is due to be heard at Cheltenham Magistrates Court on February 14.

During the entire campaign, Gloucestershire Police arrested a total of 57 people for drink driving, 12 less than the 2012 clampdown.

Kevin Roseblade, roads policing inspector, said: “One person drink driving is one too many. However it is encouraging to see that the number of arrests has dropped significantly from last year.

“The issue of drink driving is not exclusive to the festive period and our efforts to combat this will continue throughout 2014. Our key message, regardless of the time of year, is very simple: ear, think and be merry.”