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

Gloucestershire Road Safety Partnership's "Eat, think and be merry" campaign 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.

That’s 23 lives lost this December in avoidable and preventable crashes.

On top of this enormous human tragedy are the countless thousands whose lives are changed in one way or another because of the consequences of being convicted for drinking and driving.

Roads policing inspector Kevin Roseblade said: “It's 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.”

Below is a list of the 13 charged with drink driving offences between Monday, December 1 and Sunday, December 13.

Paul Bradshaw, aged 59, of Rowan Close, Carterton in Oxfordshire was arrested in the A429 on December 1. He will appear before magistrates in Cheltenham on January 7.

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

Robert Gordon Harris, aged 47, 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, aged 42, 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, aged 22, 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, aged 22, of Upper Park Street in Cheltenham was arrested in Tredworth High Street on December 6. He is appeared before magistrates in Stroud on Wednesday.

Ryan Andrew Malone, aged 30 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, aged 22 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, aged 26, of Chepstow was arrested in Beachley Road on December 9. He will appear before magistrates in Cheltenham on January 6.

Dean Lawrence Barry, aged 31, 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, aged 48, of no known address was arrested on the A40 Golden Valley bypass on December 13. He will appear before magistrates in Cheltenham on January 12.

Jack Daniel Allen, aged 23, 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, aged 65, of London Road, Chalford, was arrested in London Road on December 14. He will appear before magistrates in Stroud on January 19.