THE SECOND week of the Christmas drink drive crackdown has resulted in 15 arrests, bringing the total of positive breath tests to 31 since the start of December.

Of those arrested between Monday December 9 and Sunday December 15, nine have been charged and are now facing a possible driving ban to start the New Year.

Roads Policing Inspector Kevin Roseblade said: “Again it's disappointing that there is a stubborn minority who refuse to heed our warnings.

“The dangers of drink driving and the 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.

“This week's arrests span the length and breadth of the county, including Dursley, Cheltenham, Newent and Gloucester and show that wherever you are we will be too carrying out roadside tests.

“The one silver lining is Stroud. Special Constables ran another operation this weekend and tested over 100 people in the town, none of whom were over the limit.

“I hope we see similar results elsewhere soon and I'd like to thank the officers there for all their hard work.

"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.”