ROAD tax dodgers could have their cars crushed and be fined £200 as part of a drive to purge the streets of untaxed and abandoned vehicles.

Police in Hyndburn have already removed 48 since the two-week operation started on Monday - 38 of those were identified by the public or previously recorded as not being taxed.

Twelve further cars have also been clamped and the owners have produced their documents at Accrington police station.

People are given 24 hours to pay the fine, £120 of which is a surety payment and will be refunded, and produce a tax disc, otherwise their clamped vehicle will be taken to a secure compound at a secret location .

Once at the compound, they are given another 24 hours to pay up and receive the £120 refund ,after which they have two weeks to come forward and pay a further daily storage fee of £15.

The vehicle is then taken away to a holding area for another fortnight, if no claim is made, before being crushed or sold at auction.

The operation, run jointly by the police, Hyndburn Council and the DVLA, aims to reduce the number of these cars on the road, to stop them being set ablaze or used by criminals.

Inspector Phil Cottam said: "I would like to give our thanks to the public for helping us and also our partners. We did something similar a while back, but the difference this time is that Hyndburn Council have given us money so we can rent a secure compound in which the vehicles are placed."

DVLA campaign manager Lynne Hopkins said: "If nobody comes forward, we will crush the car or sell it on at auction. There are no exceptions nor excuses and there is is no escape."

Coun Janet Storey said: "Untaxed and abandoned cars are one of the biggest complaints the police have. They are a real problem for everyone.

"Children break into them, they are used by criminals, and they can be set on fire. I know that there is one scrapyard. Altham Auto Wreckers, in Moorfield Street, that does not charge if you can get your unwanted car there so there is no excuse."

The scheme is running alongside a blitz to target the region's criminals using the Automatic Number Plate Recognition technology.

Thirteen arrests were made in Ewood, Blackburn, on Thursday for driving while disqualified, theft, having no MOT, using 'red' diesel, as well as wanted on warrants being detained.

By RICHARD NEWTON

Crunch

time for

dodgers

THE END: A car is crushed at the Premiere Cinema car park

, Accrington