A MULTI-agency task force carried out a second car clamping blitz in Kendal and surrounding villages in a bid to rid the area's roads of vehicles being driven illegally.

Operation Strong saw Cumbria Police, South Lakeland District Council (SLDC) and the Driver Vehicle Licensing Association join forces to act on tip-offs from frustrated residents to target untaxed vehicles and those not covered by insurance or MOT.

A similar sting carried out in April saw 67 vehicles fitted with clamps. During the latest two-day operation, 21 vehicles were clamped and 55 enforcement notices given for no tax. Three other vehicles were dealt with for not being covered with insurance, one with no MOT and another which had been abandoned.

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"It's about responding to complaints from the public and taking the necessary enforcement action," said SLDC neighbourhood enforcement officer John Barwise as the task force targeted cars on the Hallgarth estate.

"We're here to get cars off the road that are parked on the highway illegally.

"The vast majority of people pay for tax, insurance and MOTs, so it's only fair we take action against those who do not."

Throughout the first day of activity, the DVLA's van, fitted with automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras, scoured various parts of the town identifying untaxed and uninsured vehicles.

They found illegally-parked cars and vans on Collinfield, Shap Road, Sandylands, Kirkbarrow, Hallgarth and the Castle estate.

Sergeant Suzanne Scott-O’Neill of Cumbria Police said: “This operation shows clearly that there are still many people in the town and area that are failing to tax their vehicles.

"Some motorists think that because they don’t have to display a tax disc anymore, they won’t be found out.

"This is not the case and enforcement will be taken against those failing to tax, insure or MOT their vehicles – if you do not have the relevant lawful documents, you will be caught.”