A NEW crackdown on motorists who dump unwanted vehicles is proving a crushing success.

Tax dodging drivers are also targeted in the latest campaign aimed at recouping millions of pounds of lost revenue and ridding roadsides of unsightly scrap vehicles.

The action to pin-point guilty drivers began in March of this in the Cleveland Constabulary area which had a total of 14,000 unlicensed vehicles representing a loss of £1.6million.

It was followed by an ongoing campaign in North Yorkshire where £2.6million was owed on 22,000 unlicensed vehicles.

And in the Durham Constabulary area there are 16,000 vehicles producing £1.7million in lost revenue.

In the latest crackdown the Easington district in east Durham was singled out for joint action by the Driver and Vehicle Licesing Agency (DVLA), Durham Cosntabulary and Easington district council.

During the two week initiative enforcement action has been taken against the owners of 100 abandoned and unlicensed vehicles.

And yesterday (FRIDAY) a mobile crusher was brought to a council depot in Peterlee where abandoned vehicles were unceremoniously reduced to little more than metal cubes.

Peterlee based beat officer Siobhan Jones, who has been helping with the campaign, said: "It is unfair to the majority of road users who pay their taxes that a substantial minority do not.

"Most cars and other vehicles without road tax also have no test certificate to prove their road-worthiness or insurance to cover them in the event of an accident.''

A press spokesman for the DVLA said yesterday: "These vehicles are a hazard to road users, look unsightly and are an easy target for vehicle arson. Their removal from the streets will have a direct impact on road safety and these vehicles will meet their fate by being disposed of by crushing.'' Terry Barnard, Head of Environment at the DVLA added: "We are delighted to be working alongside the police and local councils to tidy up Durham. "The aim is to make the area a centre of excellence for this type of operation and demonstrate what can be achieved in dealing with this ever increasing problem.''