A CAMPAIGN against the estimated 57,000 untaxed vehicles on the roads of the North-East is being launched today.

Officials from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) will team up with the Cleveland, Durham, and Northumbria police forces for a month-long crackdown.

The DVLA's Stingray Camera System will be used to read number plates to check if vehicles are taxed.

Offenders face fines of up to £1,000 for a car or motorcycle or £23,000 for a lorry.

The DVLA says tax disc cheats in the region are costing the Government £6.67m in lost revenue.

In the first two weeks, owners will be urged to re-license their vehicles, but after that they will be wheel-clamped and removed.

If cars are not claimed they will be crushed.

Superintendent Barry Peart, Durham Police's head of traffic, said: "Durham Constabulary supports this initiative wholeheartedly.

"It's simply not fair that while most road users pay their taxes, a substantial minority do not.

"All the agencies are giving fair warning of the campaign, so there can be no excuse for having an untaxed vehicle on the roads.

"Tax revenue is put to use for many good reasons, not least to maintain our present road system. Without that funding, our roads would soon fall into decay and all motorists would suffer as a result."

Inspector Steve Lawson, of Cleveland Police's road policing unit, said: "This is a road safety initiative.

"Untaxed vehicles usually have no insurance or test certificate and present a danger to all road users."