PENDLE Council has decided to take enforcement action against the owners of a house in Nelson whose garden and nearby street are often surrounded by at least seven cars -- the majority of which are derelict or unroadworthy.

The council looked in to the vehicle activity at number 2 St John's Place following a complaint about the number of cars on the site.

Two visits were made to the house and on one of these occasions there were seven vehicles on and around the property, five of which were not roadworthy and two of those had been left in Hallam Road.

All the vehicles are owned by the owner of the house, who is a motor vehicle enthusiast and specialises in Vauxhall Novas and competes in rallies.

A report by planners to the Nelson Committee said: "It seems that there is often at least seven vehicles at the premises although some have been parked on the highway. Bering in mind that as many as four of these have been unroadworthy, I think that a change of use to dual use for residential and vehicle storage purposes has occured.

"No permissions has been granted for such a use."

It also pointed out that there were also a number of other large items such as trailers among the cars which gave the area an untidy appearance.

Members of the committee agreed that enforcement action should be taken to reduce the number of unroadworthy vehicles on the property to a level more in line with residential use.

They also decided that action should be taken to tidy the property by getting a reduction in the number of unroadworthy vehicles, trailers and other large items on the gardens of the property.