POLICE have charged 13 people with drink driving offences in the first two weeks of the Christmas drink drive crackdown.

The arrests were made as part of Gloucestershire Road Safety Partnership's "Eat, think and be merry" campaign, which began at the start of December and will run until the beginning of January.

Almost every day in the countdown to Christmas, one family in the UK will face the devastation of a death of a loved one in a drink related road collision, amounting to 23 lives lost this December.

Kevin Roseblade, roads policing Inspector said it is hard to comprehend how people still haven't got the message about drink driving.

“The dangers and possible implications for the driver and other road users have been clear for a long time - so there really is no excuse for doing it.

“The Tri-force roads policing team will carry on stopping people and breath testing wherever necessary and I'm grateful too for the checks being carried out by the Special Constabulary.

"We will be keeping up the pressure and conducting regular roadside checks, as well as breath testing anyone involved in a road traffic collision, throughout the festive season.

“Our key message this year is very simple – eat, think and be merry.”

Details of the 13 charged with drink driving offences between Monday, December 1 and Sunday 13 December. Paul Bradshaw, 59 and of Rowan Close, Carterton in Oxfordshire was arrested on the A429 on December 1. He will appear before magistrates in Cheltenham on January 7.

Derek Clayton Gifford, 31 and of Rookery Road in Innsworth was arrested on the A40 on December 4. He will appear before magistrates in Cheltenham on January 6.

Robert Gordon Harris, 47 and of Lipson Road, Cheltenham was arrested near his home address on December, 5. He will appear before magistrates in Cheltenham on January 22.

Andrew Bell, 42 and of Priory Lane, Bishop's Cleeve was arrested in Charlton Kings on December, 5. He will appear before magistrates in Stroud on January, 5.

Grace Leanne Welby, 22 and of Pittville Lawn, Cheltenham was arrested in Pill Grove Way on December 6. She will appear before magistrates in Cheltenham on January 16.

Kieran Ward, 22 and of Upper Park Street in Cheltenham was arrested in Tredworth High Street on December 6. He is appearing before magistrates in Stroud on December 17.

Ryan Andrew Malone, 30 and of Kempley in Dymock was arrested in St Oswald's Road in Gloucester on December 7. He will appear before magistrates in Cheltenham on January 6.

Christopher James Andrews, 22 and of Pike Hill in Elkstone, Cheltenham was arrested on an unclassified road in Woodmancote on December 7. He will appear before magistrates in Cheltenham on January 7.

Mikaele Raivalita Matana, 26 and of Chepstow was arrested on Beachley Road on December 9. He will appear before magistrates in Cheltenham on January 6.

Dean Lawrence Barry, 31 and of School Lane in Whitminster was arrested on the B4008 in Hardwicke on December 12. He will appear before magistrates in Stroud on January 12.

Tomasz Damiecki, 48 and of no known addres was arrested on the A40 Golden Valley bypass on December 13. He will appear before magistrates in Cheltenham on January. 12 Jack Daniel Allen, 23 and of Kingshill Road, Dursley was arrested in Garden Suburb in Dursley on December 13. He will appear before magistrates in Stroud on January 5.

David John Pinson, 65 and of London Road, Chalford was arrested on London Road on December 14. He will appear before magistrates in Stroud on January 19.