AN AMNESTY geared at drivers whose cars have reached the end of the road has proved such a success it is being continued for another month.

Derwentside Community Safety Partnership launched a campaign last month to rid the district of unwanted vehicles left on driveways, parked on private land or dumped in gardens.

Police, firefighters and council staff were concerned that, apart from such vehicles being eyesores, they were also potential magnets for arsonists and vandals.

Owners were offered the chance to have their cars towed away and scrapped for free, rather than pay the normal cost of up to £50.

In the first four weeks of the scheme, 26 cars were collected and disposed of in two local scrapyards. Six were collected from East Stanley, with the remainder spread evenly across other areas including Quebec, Lanchester, Annfield Plain and Consett.

Those cars destined for scrap included a sports car, but were mostly a mix of family cars and saloon vehicles, the newest being an M-registration Metro from 1994.

The amnesty will now last until the end of February.

Sgt Andy McConnell said: "We are delighted with how well things are going. Hopefully word will spread that here is an ideal opportunity to get rid of an end-of-life car free of charge.

"Derwentside Council has also reported fewer abandoned vehicles than normal this month. No-one can say for certain if that is because of the amnesty, but even if it is just a coincidence it's a very welcome one.

District council chairman Alex Watson welcomed the scheme as an example of a good partnership working.

He said: "Abandoned cars are both an eyesore to communities and a potential danger to people.

"The council is delighted at its early success and would urge everyone to take advantage of this amnesty."

Similar operations across the Easington and Durham areas last year took more than 100 unwanted vehicles off the roads.

Anyone wanting to get rid of an old vehicle should contact the council on (01207) 218795 during normal office hours.

People who spot abandoned cars should also contact the council on the same telephone number.