A CAMPAIGN to clamp down on unlicensed fast-food vans has uncovered more examples of the practice.

The issue has been raised with North Yorkshire County Council by Harrogate-based councillor Cliff Trotter,

He acted after the owner of a village post office complained that trade was being seriously affected by a mobile cafe on the fringe of a village.

The arrival of the van had seriously damaged trade at the post office at a time when many village post offices were battling to remain open.

After taking up the issue, Coun Trotter was told of another business, paying £36,000 a year in business rates, which also faced competition from an unlicensed food van.

He said: "When the issue was discussed by the county's transport committee, other cases came to light and I now believe there are dozens of tuck shops operating in the highways and byways of the county without knowledge of the council."

Coun Trotter said some vans seemed to be a step or two ahead of councils by moving from place to place.

He said in one instance, a van appeared outside a school selling hamburgers and beefburgers to the children.

After hearing of the councillor's concerns, North Yorkshire County Council's transport committee has decided to seek the help of district councils throughout the county to seek a uniform solution to the problem.

Environment services chief Mike Moore will liaise with councils at Harrogate, Richmondshire, Scarborough, Selby, Ryedale, Hambleton and Craven.

Coun Trotter said he was pleased the issue was being taken seriously.

He said: "It seems wrong that established traders paying huge amounts of business rates should find themselves facing unfair competition from some tuck shops who do not face such overheads."