AN American car enthusiast has won his battle against Government red tape that would have forced him to splash out more than £1,000 to change his number plate.

Under DVLA regulations Owen Dawson's 3.1 litre left-hand drive Chevrolet Camaro, like every US car in the country, has to have a British car number plate.

But because British plates are two inches bigger than those across the Atlantic, he would have had to cut a hole in his bumper, or change the back end of the car - a job costing more than £1,000.

But a plea for help to North Durham MP Kevan Jones prompted the Labour politician to challenge the Government and get the legislation changed.

DVLA bosses had insisted on all US cars changing to British-style plates because they could not be seen as easily by CCTV cameras and crime witnesses. Mr Dawson, of Ouston, near Chester-le-Street, said armed robbers were not likely to use a huge American car for a getaway.

The 33-year-old lorry driver said: "The Government was trying to close a legal loophole, but didn't realise the problem it was causing for US car drivers."

Following a letter from Mr Jones to the Department of Transport, officials agreed to make all US cars in this country exempt from the legislation.