The arrests were all made by officers on routine patrols

Officers said the arrests - made from 22 - 29 September in Gloucestershire - were made by police on routine patrols or attending incidents.

They were not connected in any way with any targeted policing, a spokesman said.

By contrast, during the Christmas period - when drivers are targeted - the force made 50 arrests in 2002.

"People tend to think that drink-driving is only a problem in the main in summer and at Christmas, but for us it is a continual problem that we enforce throughout the year," said acting Inspector John Pickersgill.

"If convicted all of these people will have to face up to the stigma and inconvenience that being found guilty of drink driving causes.

"By drinking and driving motorists are increasing their chances of being involved in a crash significantly. Nothing is worth that risk and our advice is that drivers always have none for the road.