POLICE could seek the help of England football star Jonathan Woodgate for information about one of his former cars which was subsequently used by a drug dealer.

Heroin dealer Andrew Parker cruised the streets in a silver £30,000 BMW convertible bearing the Real Madrid defender's private number plate.

The Middlesbrough-born star's agent said at the weekend that he had sold the car to a Scottish man in 2001.

But police said checks on the vehicle showed up anomalies.

The car has had two keepers and was first registered on November 28, 2000 and, according to checks through HPI - an independent vehicle authority - it was acquired by the current keeper on December 11, 2002.

A Cleveland Police spokesman said: "We are not investigating Jon-athan Woodgate over any criminal matters, however it may well be that we will need to speak to him with regard to the car."

The discovery was made when Cleveland Police drugs squad arrested Parker and partner in crime Ian Bullen in a £180,000 heroin swoop last year.

The BMW was one of a number of vehicles owned by the former Newcastle and Leeds star, all of which had registrations ending in his initials JSW.

In a statement issued at the weekend, Woodgate's agent, Simon Bayliff, said: "Jonathan sold the car to a Scottish gentleman three years ago and all the documentation was sent through to him. He has never heard of the two gentlemen in the case."

The BMW - registered X6 JSW - is still in police possession and will now be subject to confiscation orders.

Detectives investigating the case were commended for their work in the drugs seizure by a judge at Teesside Crown Court last week.

Bullen was jailed for seven years, but Parker is on the run after fleeing the court before sentence.