A NORTH-EAST council now has greater powers to remove abandoned and untaxed cars from streets.

The DVLA is to give some of its powers to local authorities, and Middlesbrough is the first council north of London to sign up to an agreement which allows them to remove untaxed cars from the streets.

The fast-track system means that any vehicle without a tax disc can be checked with the DVLA at Swansea within three seconds, and the offending vehicle put on a low loader and taken to a pound immediately.

Vehicles will be held at the pound for seven days before being crushed.

Owners can pay £200 to retrieve their cars, of which £80 will go to the council to cover costs. The remainder will be used as a returnable bond once the car has been taxed.

Since March last year, the council has been involved in Operation Cube It to seize and crush untaxed cars.

Since then, more than 314 untaxed, uninsured and un-roadworthy vehicles have been destroyed.

The council's extended powers will also allow them to seize any untaxed car stopped by the police.

The occupants will not be allowed to re-enter the car, and the car will be taken to the pound.

The Mayor of Middlesbrough, Ray Mallon, said: "Abandoned cars are a blight on the streets of Middlesbrough. They are unsightly and a magnet for vandals.

"I am sure residents will welcome moves which will get rid of them quickly."