ROAD tax dodgers in parts of Hyndburn have been put on warning as police and traffic wardens join forces for a blitz on cheats.

And the tough message is pay up or your car could be crushed as part of Operation Clampdown, covering Accrington, Oswaldtwistle and Church.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency has teamed up with Accrington police and traffic wardens to step up their enforcement action against unlicensed vehicles.

Wheelclampers have been in action, patrolling the town's streets since last week and after authorisation from the DVLA, they have clamped and impounded 40 untaxed cars.

Today the DVLA were in action again, displaying some of those cars and crushing some.

Drivers wanting to recaim their vehicle if it is clamped must either produce a valid tax disc at the vehicle pound or pay a surety fee in addition to the £80 release fee.

Surety is £120 for cars and small vans, £300 or £600 for large vehicles, and is refunded on production of a valid tax disc for the vehicle in person to the pound or DVLA local office within 14 days of paying.

Vehicles not claimed within 24 hours will be removed to a secure vehicle pound incurring a £160 release charge and daily storage charges of £15.

After being removed from the streets, rogue vehicles face being crushed.

Drivers will also be liable for a £1,000 fine.

Inspector Phil Cottam, Acrington's police commander said his officers had spent months collating information about untaxed cars reported to them by members of the public.

"These people should know as I said in the press a month ago that the time has now come for them to get their vehicles taxed or face the inevitable consequences."

Sgt Claire Holbrook, Accrington Police co-ordinator, said: "It's frustrating for the police that the public who are good enough to inform us about vehicles without licensing cannot see the results of our actions.

"This operation has been designed to target persistent road tax evaders. I'm delighted that through the press coverage the public will be able to see those results."

"Forty cars have been clamped and impounded, and hundreds of pounds of revenue is being collected from offenders."

John Moore, DVLA's enforcement manager, said: "We are delighted to be working alongside the police and traffic wardens in a combined effort to rid the area of unlicensed vehicles.

"Stringent new regulations have come into force to allow DVLA to crush the vehicles of road tax cheats within 14 days of being wheelclamped."

Last year 35,000 tickets were issued by traffic wardens in Lancashire for non payment of car tax, with 13,000 prosecutions brought.