BURNLEY'S mayor elect today called on police to carry on catching road tax-dodgers as his son was caught driving his van illegally.

Mohammad Najib, 26, was clocked by DVLA cameras in Colne Road driving his red Toyota van with a tax disc which expired in December.

Today Mr Najib admitted the offence as his father, deputy mayor Councillor Mohammad Najib called on police and the DVLA to continue targeting offenders.

Mr Najib said he was taking his van from his father's home in Colne Road to his shop in Cog Lane when he was caught.

He said: "I was driving it from my dad's drive to take it to the forecourt of my shop to declare it off the road because my dad was telling me to move it. I did not realise the tax had run out."

Mr Najib had to pay £200 to remove a clamp from his van as part of the DVLA and police drive on tax disc cheats.

This week 57 motorists have been caught with out of date discs. And Dave Clark, prosecutor for the DVLA, promised further operations. He added Mr Najib would be refunded £120 if he produced a valid tax disc within two weeks but would have to pay an out of court settlement of two months road tax or face court.

Mr Clark said: "A red vehicle was seen in Colne Road with no excise licence. The vehicle was clamped and the owner paid a £200 release fee."

Coun Najib said his constituents had raised concerns of cars with no tax in his Queensgate ward.

He added: "He is my son but nobody is above the law. If somebody does wrong they should have to pay.

"I urge the police and DVLA to continue taking action."