Cars without a valid tax disc will be wheel clamped

An operation to detect illegal vehicles and prosecute the owners will last for the next two weeks.

Officials from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) will be using sophisticated registration recognition equipment installed inside the vehicles in which they will tour the area.

The equipment can scan and detect untaxed vehicles at a distance and while on the move.

Operation Phoenix

On the ground there will be police and traffic warden patrols also looking out for untaxed vehicles.

Cars and vans without a valid tax disc will be clamped and their owners traced and prosecuted.

The hunt for untaxed vehicles is part of Operation Phoenix - a joint operation by the police, the local council and the DVLA to rid the streets of untaxed and unsafe vehicles.

It is hoped the operation will also reduce the number of abandoned cars which are set on fire.