CUSTOMS and Excise officers have seized 87 vehicles during a six-day blitz on diesel tax dodgers in the region.

Operation Keeper was launched in Cleveland, Durham, Northumberland and Tyne and Wear in a bid to catch drivers of vehicles illegally using red diesel or kerosene.

Officials are concerned that an increasing number of unscrupulous motorists are using red diesel, a low tax fuel used by farmers and transport businesses.

They fear some users are selling the fuel on to drivers anxious to fill up with diesel at lower than pump prices.

The investigation resulted in the seizure of ten taxis, 18 heavy goods vehicles, 59 cars and vans and one fuel storage tanker. So far 62 vehicles have been restored to their owners on payment of more than £30,000 in penalties.

Rob Hastings-Trew, Customs spokesman for Northern England said: "Since April 2000, seizures of vehicles involved in oil fraud have more than trebled. Customs are determined to crack down hard on those who try to defraud the system.

Red diesel is normal road diesel which has a rebated level of duty primarily for use in farm vehicles. It is called "red" because a special dye is used to distinguish it from the normal forecourt fuel.

Tax on normal diesel is ten times higher than its red equivalent. Kerosene is also tax free when used as domestic heating fuel but can also be used in farm vehicles