MOTORISTS looking to buy a used car are being urged to be cautious following a survey carried out by a North-East council.

An inspection of 31 cars at 15 garages found that 27 - or 87 per cent - had at least one fault that could affect the vehicle's safety.

Two cars checked by inspectors from Stockton Borough Council's trading standards department were in such a poor and dangerous state that the traders were banned from selling them until repair work had been carried out.

Common faults included seriously under-deflated or worn tyres, loose trim or bodywork, faulty lights and corroded brake pipes.

Many of the faults found are the type that are easily missed during pre-sale checks.

Under consumer protection legislation, trading standards have the power to inspect, test or examine cars on garage forecourts.

If faults are found, they can suspend the vehicle from sale and instruct the garage to rectify the defect before the car is sold.

They can also seize and detain the vehicle and apply to a magistrate for an order that the car be forfeited and destroyed.

David Kitching, trading standards manager for the council, said: "The results of the survey are worrying because all the defects found affect the safety of the vehicle in some way.

"Car dealers are required by law to ensure the vehicles they sell are safe and in a roadworthy condition. Traders who ignore their responsibilities face prosecution."