DEL Boy is helping the old Bill catch car thieves.

His trusty three-wheeler is being used to promote a scheme aimed at putting the brake on the re-sale of stolen cars. Lovely jubbly.

The Only Fools and Horses Reliant Regal - recently voted Britain's best-known vehicle - was in Middlesbrough yesterday on a national tour.

Junior Transport Minister David Jamieson said: "In the UK, half a million vehicles are stolen each year, representing a cost of £3bn to the economy. While general vehicle thefts have come down, largely due to improved security measures, organised vehicle crime has actually increased by almost 30 per cent in recent times.

"Many of the cars stolen are put up for sale, only to be bought by unsuspecting buyers.

"The DVLA is very concerned about this problem, and is making changes to the status of the V5 (logbook) with a view to protecting the car buying public."

He added: "One of the best ways car buyers can protect themselves from unknowingly buying a stolen vehicle is to request its logbook.

"Buyers can find themselves with no car and no compensation if it's discovered that their car is stolen - we want to help protect people from this situation."

From February next year, it will no longer be possible to buy a tax disc at a post office without producing either the renewal/reminder form or the vehicle's logbook. It will be no longer possible to buy a tax disc on completion of a V5 request form.

The Trotters' Reliant does have a valid V5. T'r'ffic!