A former Keighley patrol officer has become the first policeman in the country assigned specifically to deal with the problem of abandoned cars.

PC Vaughan Evans has been appointed Abandoned Vehicle Co-ordinator for the Bradford district, to try to clean the streets of dumped cars.

Since April last year 1,274 cars have been removed from the roads in a successful partnership with Bradford Council, and now PC Evans is to step up the campaign.

Many of the abandoned cars are used by criminals as 'pool' cars - parked up without any insurance, tax or MOT and the keys passed among the underworld for easy use.

They are left throughout the district and their locations passed among criminals.

But officers are now scouring the streets to take them away from criminals and to prevent them becoming a magnet for teenage thugs.

Chief Inspector John Chambers, in charge of vehicle crime based at Toller Lane police station, said: "If our checks show they are unlicensed then they are classed as abandoned.

"Many of these pool cars have none of the documentation which is essential - especially insurance.

"Once we have removed a car, if a person wants it back he has to produce the necessary paperwork. And if a criminal has no sense of social responsibility it is unlikely he will have the correct documentation."

He added that abandoned cars - mainly larger engined cars which are expensive to repair and run - are also dangerous when pulled apart by vandals.

"Abandoned cars are just junk - and they're dangerous junk," he said.

"There are fire service videos showing how air bags blow out of the side when a car is set on fire, and they can cause serious injuries. It is a national problem and in Bradford we are very sensitive to it. Abandoned cars are the worst kind of litter.

"They give the impression no-one cares and we want people to come to this city and invest in it. No-one likes to see them."

The problem has been exacerbated by plummeting scrap metal prices.

"Once you went to a scrap dealer and asked him how much he would give you for them," adds Chief Insp Chambers. "Now they give you a price to take it off your hands."

Once a car is spotted by a police officer, the council is alerted and the vehicle is removed instantly by a private contractor employed by the authority.

They are stored for seven days then taken apart and scrapped if unclaimed.

Under the previous system a notice had to be placed on the vehicle advertising the fact they were abandoned and making them more of a target for thugs. Police decided to target the problem after it was constantly raised as an issue at neighbourhood forums.

"We have a successful partnership which is working well," said Chief Insp Chambers.

"We have overcome a lot of hurdles and bureaucracy to achieve this, and we hope it impacts significantly on the quality of lives of the people of Bradford."

To contact PC Evans about dumped cars phone 0845 6060606.