TRAFFIC wardens and DVLA enforcement officers have been out in force in Accrington again in a blitz on road tax dodgers.

Operation Clampdown first took to the streets in October to catch tax evaders and more than 300 drivers were stopped or had their vehicles clamped.

The traffic wardens, who target tax evaders as part of their duties, were joined by DVLA staff who travel around the county to help speed up the procedure.

When the six-week major blitz came to an end last month Sgt Claire Holbrook, co-ordinator for Accrington police, warned it would be back to catch dodgers out.

The operation was reinstated last week and a further 52 vehicles have been clamped and ticketed of which 38 have been impounded.

Once a car is clamped the owner has 24 hours to pay £200 to free the car. Of that £120 will be returned if they prove they have bought a tax disk within two weeks.

If this is not done the car will be impounded and it then costs £280 plus £15 for each day in the pound.

If the vehicle is not claimed within a set time it will be auctioned or crushed.

Inspector Phil Cottam said: "It is quite obvious from the success of the last operation that we did that a lot of the problem vehicles were removed and ultimately taxed.

"We are however well aware that this remains an ongoing problem and our resolve with the other agencies involved in this is to ensure those motorists who continue to evade taxation will ultimately be made to pay.

"We would obviously like to remind those motorists without tax that the penalties remain severe."