ABANDONED cars are the latest target in a council clean-up operation.

Darlington Borough Council has announced it is to hold a two-week amnesty next month, during which it will dispose of people's old cars for free.

Last year, the council spent £60,000 removing and disposing of 1,000 cars which had been abandoned by their owners. And it is hoped this scheme, which is being paid for by the Government, will save the council money in the long-term.

The amnesty will run from January 17 and residents will be able to ring the council, which will collect and dispose of any car the owner had been planning to scrap.

The scheme is part of a national initiative run by environmental campaigners Encams - formerly known as Keep Tidy Britain - and funded by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Council officers will also be approaching people who have vehicles parked on their properties which look as if they may need to be scrapped or disposed of.

These vehicles will also be removed at the owner's request and disposed of free of charge.

Stephen Harker, Darlington Borough Council cabinet member for consumer and environmental services, said: "Disposing of abandoned cars is an ongoing problem for the council.

"Abandoned cars are unsightly, expensive to deal with and they can be hazardous if left abandoned at the roadside.

"This is the first time we have tried a scheme like this but we are hoping that members of the public will come forward and contact us.

"If they have a vehicle at home that has come to the end of its life and it will cost money to have it removed, they can contact us and we will remove it for them free of charge.

"This is a far better alternative than leaving vehicles to rot on driveways or abandoned at the side of the road.

"If the public response is good, we may well consider extending the amnesty."

To contact the council to collect an abandoned car when the amnesty begins, call (01325) 388799.