YOU have been warned!

That was the message from the police and DVLA as they carried out a second clamp down on motorists not paying their road tax.

Determined to stamp out the problem in Prestwich and Whitefield, the team took to the streets once again on Monday and Tuesday (May 17-18) this week.

Drivers who were not displaying a valid road tax disc found their vehicles being clamped or towed away, and would only be released on payment of a hefty fine.

In just two days, officers clamped 21 vehicles and six were removed by the DVLA and taken to their compound.

The first sweep of its kind in the area was launched in February, when officers and the DVLA impounded 12 vehicles and clamped a further seven.

But the team have been astounded at the cheek of people who continue to flout the law.

Sgt Mike Kennedy, from Whitefield Police who organised the sting, said: "Despite the last clamp down when we clamped 19 vehicles and took most of them away, the message does not seem to be getting across. We were out this week and clamped 21 vehicles and took six away and we will be out again in the future. People have been warned!"

Sgt Kennedy said there was no excuse for not displaying a tax disc and gave an example of the owner of a £20,000 Mercedes jeep in Sunnybank.

"If you have a car of that calibre, why not just tax it?" he said.

Motorists who have had their car clamped are issued with instructions on how to retrieve their vehicle. If the fine is paid within 24 hours the fee is £80 plus £120 surety or a valid tax disc.

After 24 hours the fee increases to £160 plus surety or tax disc and additional £15 per day storage, where the vehicle has been impounded.

Sgt Kennedy added: " Usually, no tax means no insurance or MOT and that creates a potentially dangerous situation. We are not just picking on people for not paying their road tax, but removing from the roads a genuine threat to other motorists and pedestrians."