ROAD tax dodgers could find their cars clamped or even crushed as part of a blitz on cheats.

Wheel-clamping hit squads will be drafted into Lancashire for the launch of the hard-hitting campaign starting on Monday.

Police believe there are 37,000 unlicensed vehicles on the county's roads which amount to a massive £4.5million in lost revenue.

Last year more than 27,000 tax dodgers in Lancashire were taken to court and prosecuted and £2.7million in revenue recovered.

Lancashire Police and traffic wardens, along with other forces in the North West, are teaming up with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) for the crackdown.

And police are urging motorists to check their tax discs are up to date before they are caught by the enforcement.

As part of the campaign, teams from the DVLA will be on 24-hour patrol to spot offending vehicles. Vehicles left unclaimed for more than a day will be impounded and any unclaimed after five weeks could be auctioned off or crushed.

During a similar scheme across the county in June, 60 people had their vehicles clamped after being found with no valid tax discs.

Since vehicle clamping started in 1997 more than 7,800 vehicles have been clamped and relicensed, bringing in an extra £900,000 in revenue.

Sgt Allan Bradbury, of Lancashire Constabulary's Road Policing Unit said: "Honest motorists, who have nothing to fear from this campaign, are fed up with those who dodge duty.

"Often it's a case of no tax, no insurance or MOT either, so we'll be putting every possible effort into supporting the DVLA campaign.

"The price of being caught without vehicle excise duty far outstrips the cost of a tax disc.

"Motorists face inconvenience, prosecution and big fines, as well as back duty."