DANGEROUS second-hand tyres on sale throughout North Yorkshire could cause a fatal accident, motorists have been warned.

The warning follows a survey by trading standards officers into the sale of part-worn tyres, which revealed that 40 per cent failed to comply with requirements.

Head of trading standards and regulatory services, Stuart Pudney, said: "Some of the tyres we examined were so dangerous they could have caused a very serious accident - possibly a fatal one.

"The problem with part-worn tyres is that their history is unknown. They may have been removed from vehicles which have been involved in an accident, or they may have been previously damaged and incompetently repaired."

Peter Taylor of the Tyre Industry Council added: "It is important that the regulations are complied with, so anyone buying part-worn tyres can do so knowing that the tyres are safe."

Investigations into businesses that supplied tyres in a dangerous condition are continuing.