Almost 100 vehicles were examined in a swoop on a car sales garage yesterday.

Highline Performance Cars (formerly known as Brownhill Garage) in Bradford Road, Birkenshaw, was raided shortly before 11am by police, West Yorkshire Trading Standards and Vehicle Inspectorate officers.

Vehicle Inspectorate officers examined cars on the forecourt and a catalogue of faults were found.

PC Neil Hirst, of Heckmondwike road traffic police, said the operation had been planned for more than a month.

"Susan Heppenstall (wife of Tony, who runs the business) has co-operated in that she's let us look at the cars," he said. "We have had several complaints about this place for various reasons."

Sergeant Alan Kaye, Dewsbury's divisional road traffic commander, said: "Defects included faulty brakes, steering, fluid leakages, lighting, tyres and dangerous parts. Therefore, several vehicles have been prohibited from being sold for immediate use on the road, and in due course the police will be identifying and speaking to the owner of the premises."

PC Hirst advised anyone who had recently bought a car from the company and who was experiencing problems to initially return it to the company.

Councillor Andrew Palfreeman (Con, Birstall & Birkenshaw) had alerted police to untaxed cars parked in the road outside the garage in the past.

Mrs Heppenstall refused to comment.

lIn March this year Anthony Heppenstall and Susan Jane Heppenstall, of Bradford Road, Birkenshaw, were disqualified for ten years from acting as company directors in an action brought by the Insolvency Service. Their son Paul Anthony Heppenstall, of the same address, was disqualified for five years at the same hearing.