DRIVERS of untaxed vehicles found the offence cost them dearly during a crackdown in two east Durham communities.

In a joint police and DVLA operation in Seaham and Murton, 27 untaxed vehicles were clamped, with 26 later removed.

The owner of the 27th car paid what was owing before his vehicle was due to be taken away.

Of the vehicles clamped and removed during the two-day initiative, the newest was only two years old, and another had a road tax disc which was over a year out of date.

Up to yesterday morning, only five of the 26 vehicles had been recovered by their owners, who will have to pay a £68 clamping fee and either produce a valid tax disc or deposit £100, which will be refundable on production of a current tax disc.

The fee to recover the vehicles increases daily, as it includes the cost of transport to the DVLA depot at Felling, plus storage charges. Any vehicle not claimed after a month will be crushed.

A spokesman for Seaham police said: "At a time when the tax on motorists is of great public concern, the vehicles recovered during these two days alone represent between £3,000 and £5,000 of lost revenue, which other law-abiding motorists are having to subsidise.''

Motorists in the area are being warned that further initiatives will be held over the coming months.