INCREASING numbers of abandoned cars have been dumped on streets and in alleyways across the region over the past two years.
Liberal Democrat Shadow Environment Secretary Norman Baker said figures showed Chester-le-Street, in County Durham, and Stockton, on Teesside, among the UK's worst car dumping blackspots.
Mr Baker said: "This is a direct consequence of the absurd decision to make the final owner of the car foot the bill for its disposal, rather than the manufacturer, as is standard practice throughout the EU.''
Chester-le-Street registered a 400 per cent increase in the number of vehicles abandoned last year.
Derwentshire, a neighbouring council, registered a 148.3 per cent rise.
Hartlepool recorded a 164.4 per cent rise, Middlesbrough 96 per cent and Richmondshire 157.6 per cent.
Sedgefield, in County Durham, recorded an 11.1 percent rise, while Stockton recorded a 378 per cent rise.
Sunderland and York were among those with reductions.
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