A FRESH crackdown on road tax cheats in Hampshire was launched today.

The blitz on unlicensed vehicles now includes a new freephone enforcement line for members of the public to shop dodgers.

Drivers are now being urged to re-license their cars ahead of a two-week clampdown by police and DVLA officers next month.

Teams will be out in force from May 10 in Hampshire with Stingray mobile camera units to detect unlicensed vehicles on the move.

During the last road tax campaign two years ago, 4,100 motorists voluntarily re-licensed their vehicles in the region, bringing in over £432,100 in additional revenue that might otherwise have been lost.

There are currently an estimated 56,000 road tax dodgers in Hampshire, making it one of the worst counties in the country. Transport Minister David Jamieson said: "Honest motorists are fed up with the small hard-core who continually evade paying their road tax. We are determined to target this irresponsible group and are inviting the public's help in doing so.

"Members of the public can phone the hotline to report unlicensed vehicles. All information will be held in the strictest confidence.

"Tax dodgers do not usually have up-to-date insurance or MoT certificates and are often involved in some other forms of criminality. Law-abiding motorists have nothing to fear from the wheelclampers, Stingray cameras or the hotline.

"They will be used to target only those who evade paying their road tax."

Unlicensed vehicles can be reported to the DVLA on freephone 08000 325 202.