An estimated 29,000 people in the county fail to pay their road tax each year at a cost of more than �3m.

The new cameras, which were unveiled on Wednesday, will be placed in lay-bys and bridges in the area.

They can recognise car tax disks and transmit the information back to a central data information centre.

'Wheel clamping'

Where the information is found to be incorrect or the tax disk is out of date, motorists an on-the-spot fine or having their cars clamped.

If they do not claim their cars within seven days, they will be crushed.

To help publicise the launch of the cameras, the world famous Chitty Chitty Bang Bang car, which is being used as the image of a new road tax campaign from the DVLA, has flown into Staffordshire.

John Moore, the enforcement officer for the DVLA in Staffordshire says the cameras are not designed to catch people out.

"We are publicising widely the fact that we will be in the area and will be bringing in wheel clamping teams as well as working closely with the police these vehicles.

"We want people to take the initiative and go out and check their road tax now and if it's not up to date, then do something about it."

He added: "The bottom line is if they don't decide to do something about it, we will."