SCRAPYARD owners in the region face visits from enforcement officers to make sure they are complying with environmental regulations.

Under the End Of Life Vehicle (ELV) Regulations, introduced in 2003, vehicles must be dismantled in a way that avoids damaging the environment.

This year, Environment Agency staff will visit the region's scrapyards to check that batteries, oils and petrol are removed from vehicles before they are crushed.

They will check that yards dismantle cars on an impermeable surface, such as concrete, so that oil or lubricating liquids can not seep through and contaminate the ground.

The officers will also check that yard operators are recycling metal, glass and plastics.

Rebecca Dunn, of the agency, said: "Only authorised sites are permitted to carry out dismantling, and they need to make sure that they carry out the work so that pollution doesn't happen.

"Once oil and other fluids have escaped, they can get into watercourses and groundwater, kill wildlife and cause serious pollution.

"In areas that rely on groundwater for drinking water, this is even more serious.

"Scrapyards have now had plenty of time to comply with the ELV regulations, and we will be coming round throughout 2006 to make sure they are operating correctly."

The Environment Agency regularly takes out prosecutions for breaches of the ELV regulations and scrapyard operators face fines of £5,000 or five-year jail sentences.

If any member of the public suspects a company is illegally disposing of cars, they can report it to the agency on 0800 80 70 60.

Published: 14/03/2006