I've known Ray Mallon for a long time now and I've seen him get pretty animated over the years.

But I've seldom seen him as passionate as he is about the issue on the front page of this morning's edition of The Northern Echo.

For want of a better phrase, Mr Mallon has "gone off on one" about the DVLA over the methods the Government agency uses to rake in millions of pounds of fines from motorists.

The Mayor of Middlesbrough is convinced that the DVLA is using illegal practices in the way it pursues motorists for £50 fines imposed when they fail to register car sales.

As a former high-ranking detective, and someone with plenty of access to legal brains, he must be confident that he knows where he stands on the law.

He's planning to lodge a protest by writing to the Secretary of State for Transport today, and he is calling for a police inquiry.

Whether he's proved right or wrong, I think we're in for an interesting ride...