DRINK and drive this Christmas and you could lose your licence even before you have sobered up fully. That is one scenario. The worst is that you could have taken another person's life.

As the festive season gets into high gear police in Swindon are warning: "Drink-drive and there is a very good chance that you will get caught."

Acting Insp Ian Stevenson said that last month 64 people were prosecuted locally for drink-driving offences more than in previous months,

"The effects are that, at the very least you will lose your licence," he said.

"You may lose your job, you may even lose your relationship.

"But that is the bottom end of the scale. You could have the death of someone on your conscience."

The campaign against drink-drivers began this week, although December 18 sees the start of the 16-day monitoring period.

Police say more people will be breath-tested in the run up to Christmas.

And those who fail the roadside breath test could face a night in the cells and an appearance before magistrates the following morning.

"Nearly 500 people a year are killed as a result of drink-driving," said Insp Stevenson

He said he has seen at first hand the results of a drink-drive fatality.

"Nearly half of those people are innocent victims," he said.

"As far as I am concerned every single one of those deaths is completely avoidable."

He added that if all the victims had died at the same time then it would be treated as a national tragedy.

He wants motorists to realise that getting caught or having an accident after a drink can happen to anyone.

"We are trying to save lives," he said.

"If everyone has the same understanding, that we are not just out to persecute people, then hopefully we will reduce the number of deaths that occur each year."

Two years ago, in December, a learner driver who failed a breath test found himself with an 80-hour community service order and a 30-month disqualification which means that he is still banned from the road.

Another man, who claimed to have downed 30 pints with whisky chasers, was involved in a head-on smash. He was given a five-month prison sentence and a three-year road ban.

Tina Clarke