West Gorton is named as the worst offender

The figure, which the Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB) said represented a third of all vehicles seized in the UK, is part of a bid to make roads safer.

Officers said uninsured drivers were more likely to have convictions for drink-driving or fail to stop at the scene of accidents.

Any vehicles not reclaimed are likely to be crushed, scrapped or sold.

Officers use an automatic number plate recognition system and the Motor Insurance Database to catch offenders.

As well as recovery and storage fees, uninsured drivers are given a �200 fine.

The chance of being caught out doing this is substantially higher than ever before Neil Drane, MIB

Sgt Paul Philbin, of Greater Manchester Police, said: "The number of drivers that are driving on the road illegally is staggering, and we are determined to put a stop to this activity and make the roads safer for everyone."

The MIB said the force's efforts were a "shining example" of what can be achieved by those committed to catching car criminals.

Spokesman Neil Drane said he was not surprised by the figure in Manchester, which represents about 250 seizures every week since January.

"We believe there may be anywhere up to two million of these criminals on the roads.

"At the moment the average, honest motorists could be paying up to �30 extra a year just to cover these people who, let's be honest, are committing a crime.

"The chance of being caught out doing this is substantially higher than ever before."

Last month, West Gorton in Manchester was named as having the highest number of uninsured drivers in the country - six times the national average.