Dumping facts

10,000 cars were dumped in Birmingham in 1999 2,000 cars were dumped in both Glasgow and Edinburgh in 1999 200 cars a month are dumped in Liverpool

A survey conducted by the motoring organisation has revealed that Birmingham is the vehicle-dumping capital of the UK, with more than 10,000 cars left in the city area in the last year.

RAC Foundation chief executive Edmund King said the trend had resulted in some of the country's roads looking like "Steptoe's back yard".

The RAC is now urging motorists to be more responsible.

"We are asking motorists to think twice before dumping their motors as they cause safety and environmental hazards," said Mr King.

Scrap metal has fallen drastically in price

"It also costs the council taxpayer, as local authorities have to pay thousands of pounds a year to remove the cars.

"The combination of falling values for used cars and scrap metal means that many motorists don't dispose of their vehicles properly.

'Not worth the effort'

"Many cars are only worth �2 or �3 in scrap value, and often it would cost more in petrol to drive the banger to a scrap yard."

He added that many cars are dumped in dangerous positions, such as near pedestrian crossings.

And that shopkeepers and residents are also concerned that abandoned vehicles take up precious parking spaces.

Rivers are also becoming dumping grounds for cars.

The Clyde in Scotland is now so full of dumped cars that the piled-up scrap represents a hazard to boating and has to be regularly cleared.