OFFICIALS in Darlington are warning motorists they are prepared to make the most of new legislation to deal with abandoned cars.

Darlington Borough Council will enforce the law, which came into force this week, allowing cars to be towed away after only 24 hours.

All vehicles reported to the authority as abandoned will have notices placed on them. If they are deemed of little value, owners will be allowed 24 hours to claim their vehicles.

Previously they could not be removed for seven days.

Owners of other vehicles will be given seven days, as opposed to the previously allowed 28 days.

The council will now be able to trace owners more easily, because the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) will provide an overnight tracing service, replacing the previous method which took up to two weeks.

Anyone looking to reclaim their vehicles will face a bill of up to £200, to cover the cost of removal and garaging.

Stephen Harker, the council's cabinet member for community protection, said: "Dumping vehicles on the streets is a problem that's on the increase. The new laws mean we can act quickly to remove cars which are clearly not going to be claimed by their owners ."

Last year, more than 1,000 vehicles were abandoned on the streets of Darlington.