PEOPLE who abandon cars in the New Forest are to be targeted in a new crackdown by police and council officers.

Hundreds of rusting and worn-out vehicles are left on roadsides and in car parks every year and council taxpayers had to pick up a recovery bill totalling £130,000 in the last financial year.

They are being dumped at an average rate of two a day and many are set alight by arsonists, which adds to the problems and causes countless call-outs for the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Often the registered owners claim to have sold their old bangers to someone in a pub whom they didn't know - but from now on that won't wash.

As police unveiled plans for an initial priority zone in the Waterside area around Hythe and Fawley, Chief Insp Keith Deakin confirmed that they will be aiming to catch up with the dumpers.

He said: "Officers will be visiting the homes of the registered keepers of cars which are found abandoned. They will be trying to ascertain why a vehicle has been abandoned and who was responsible for abandoning it."

He added that failing to notify the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency at Swansea of a change of ownership and failing to give the registration document to the new owner was an offence and that prosecutions were likely.

Insp Phil Winchester whose officers have recently been involved in investigations into the abandoning and torching of cars, said: "There is a small minority of youngsters who buy or ask for vehicles that have reached the end of their life.

"They often tell the owner that they need it for spare parts - in fact, they use it to joyride for a few hours and then set it alight."

Priority zone status will mean that abandoned or untaxed vehicles will be removed within 24 hours.

New Forest Council's community safety officer Stephanie Sutton said: "The selfish behaviour of a small minority is blighting the quality of life for many people."

More priority zones were likely to be set up and she appealed to residents to report dumpers.