MOTORISTS have been warned to ensure their car is taxed or risk a hefty bill under a clamp down which has netted 25 road fund dodgers in two days.

The joint operation involving police traffic officers and officials of the Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) began on Tuesday in Durham and surrounding villages.

By yesterday afternoon, Operation Ampere had seen 25 untaxed cars being seized and placed in one of two compounds, while more than £1,000 in on-the-spot fines were handed out.

The vehicles were removed from the Sherburn Road, Sherburn Village, Bowburn, Shadforth, Coxhoe and West Rainton areas.

All were placed in compounds on Tyneside and Durham, and to retrieve the cars owners must pay a £120 release fee.

They also must produce the log book to prove ownership, and have with them an up-to-date tax disc, back-dated if the licence is more than a month overdue.

The longer they leave it the more they have to pay in storage fees, which are £15 per day.

Police have warned the operation will continue at least another three weeks in the county, and owners are advised to ensure their tax disc is renewed on time or risk removal of their vehicle.