OWNERS of old vehicles are being urged to hand them over to Stockton Borough Council as part of an amnesty scheme before a directive comes into force.

The council launched Operation Magpie, in partnership with the police and fire brigade last year, in an attempt to encourage owners of vehicles that have reached the end of their life to hand them over to scrap merchants, rather than leave them abandoned on the street.

The scheme has proved to be successful, and as part of an extension, officers in the council's security services and enforcement team are holding a pilot initiative throughout May where they will come and pick up vehicles.

Graeme Small, enforcement co-ordinator at the council, said: "The amnesty means the council will not impose any recovery charges on owners who ask us to remove their vehicles for them."

The End of Life Vehicle Directive, which is an European Commission Directive, is expected to come into effect in June and the guidelines stipulate vehicles must be disposed of in an environmentally friendly way, including the removal of all their fluids, oils, battery, brake fluid, tyres and bumpers.

Mr Small said: "The consequence of this is that owners may be faced with compensating the scrap merchants for the costs incurred in disposing of their vehicles.

"The possible repercussions for the council are that large number of vehicles will be abandoned, once owners realise the cost of disposing of their vehicles."

However, Mr Small urged people to still take their cars to the Thomson's Scrapyard in Grangefield Road, Stockton, once the directive comes into force rather than be faced with disposal costs.

He said: "Once the amnesty is over we will continue to look for abandoned vehicles and people could face fines or prosecution.

"I would urge them to call us or the scrapyard to get rid of their cars. Alternatively anyone who has spotted an abandoned car should let us know as they can become targets for arsonists and vandals."

Anyone wishing to take part in this month's amnesty is asked to contact (01642) 415597, where the enforcement team will make arrangements to pick up a vehicle within three working days.