COMPUTER technology is being used to clear a district's streets of abandoned and untaxed cars.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council has been given direct access to the DVLA's web system to access records revealing a vehicle's owner, registered address and its road tax record.

Motorists are being warned that failure to notify the DVLA that a vehicle has been sold or transferred still leaves them liable, even though it may no longer by in their possession.

Councillor Bob Stanway, the council's cabinet member for environmental improvement, said: "We have been tackling the problem of abandoned and untaxed vehicles, in partnership with the police and the fire brigade, for some considerable time and with very encouraging results.

"What this new resource will allow us to do is respond to the on-street problems even quicker and I welcome the new technology as an added weapon in our efforts to make the borough's streets a cleaner, safer place."

The council runs an amnesty reward scheme. Between April last year and March this year, 154 residents called on the authority to collect and dispose of their vehicles free of charge. A further 136 surrendered their unwanted vehicle, receiving a £10 reward.

But during the same period, 329 vehicles were still abandoned on the streets, costing the council £11,500 to remove them.

The DVLA is launching a nationwide campaign against the problem.

It says that as many as one in three driving licences in Redcar and Cleveland could be inaccurate.

It is a legal requirement to keep both licence and registration documents up to date. To update details, log on to www.direct.gov.uk/motyour paperwork