The owner of a car sales garage has been warned by police to remove his vehicles from the street or risk being fined.

New occupants took over the former Brownhill Garage in Bradford Road, Birkenshaw, two months ago, but following complaints from residents and councillors about obstructions caused by the cars and untaxed vehicles sitting in the road, police visited the garage.

Conservative councillors Andrew Palfreeman, Brian Snelson and Robert Light (Birkenshaw and Birstall) said the most common complaints they received were concerns over cars for sale on the village's roads.

They received complaints about cars from the garage being parked in Bradford Road - some without valid tax discs - on both sides of the road and the bus stop being blocked with cars and recently items such as a three piece suite being displayed on the pavement.

Sergeant Alan Kaye, road traffic commander for the Spen Valley, said traffic officers had visited the garage on several occasions and spoken to the owner.

"We have had several complaints from local councillors and residents with road safety concerns stemming from vehicles parked in great numbers outside the garage premises in Bradford Road," he said.

"Several were identified as having no tax disc and reported to the DVLA."

Councillor Palfreeman said: "It is not so much a case of Arthur Daley opening up in Birkenshaw but Steptoe and Son displaying their items for sale.

"The problem is that although the council has some powers, most of the remedies are in the hands of the police and they have a great many other matters to occupy their time.

"I have not received as many complaints as I have about the activities at this garage. It is a situation which is causing a great deal of annoyance and one way or another we have a duty to bring it to an end."

The garage owner was unavailable for comment despite repeated attempts by the Telegraph & Argus.