TRAFFIC warden and DVLA enforcement officers have vowed to continue a blitz on road tax dodgers despite the tactics by some offenders.

Since operation Clampdown began one traffic warden has been hit by a car after attempting to put a clamp on its wheel and a small number of clamps have been forcibly removed by vehicle owners.

But Sergeant Claire Holbrook, Accrington police coordinator, says those who try to avoid Operation Clampdown will pay more money in the end. Operation Clampdown is part of an continuing operation by police and traffic wardens to catch tax evaders.

They have recently been joined by the DVLA in a large-scale blitz for a number of weeks.

She said: "The traffic wardens say the reaction generally has been outstanding and that entire rows of houses have been coming out clapping and cheering.

"The only bad reaction has been from offenders.

"There have been about three people who have forcibly removed clamps but police will then intervene and there could be charges of criminal damage and theft of DVLA property.

"This would probably result in a worse fine than to remove the clamp and they would still have to pay for road tax on top of that."

And the traffic wardens themselves and DVLA enforcement officers say they will not be intimidated in their work.

Philip Stubbs, DVLA enforcement officer, said: "I have worked in Ireland and had some hair-raising encounters and confrontations where I have had guns put to my head.

"The incident with the traffic warden this week pales into insignificance next to that and these sort of actions will not deter us."

The DVLA continuously travel around the county targeting particular areas. Inspector Phil Cottam said: "During the last few months a large number of law-abiding motorists in Accrington have been giving us information on those motorists who have not been taxing their vehicles. I would like to thank them.

"As I promised we have been collecting this information and we can now see the results.

"Those people who do not tax their vehicles need to understand that the penalties are severe and eventually they will be made to pay."

In the last couple of weeks Operation Clampdown has resulted in 150 vehicles being clamped and two-thirds of those then being impounded. Once a car is clamped the owner has 24 hours to pay £200 to free the car and £120 will be returned if they prove they have bought a tax disk within two weeks.

If this is not done the car will be impounded and it then costs £280 plus £15 for each day in the pound.

If the vehicle is not claimed within a set time it will be auctioned or crushed.

Sergeant Holbrook said: "Since the original article appeared in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph the operation has now become more overt in its methods.

"That has acted as a deterrent for some offenders.

"They have now obtained excise licences for their vehicles."