A four-day operation has begun in Kirklees to rid the streets of untaxed vehicles.

Operation Cubit - a partnership between the Council, the police and the DVLA - will identify untaxed vehicles parked on public roads and take them to a secure compound. The owner will be able to prevent removal by paying a fine there and then.

If fines are not paid within four weeks or the vehicles go unclaimed, they will be crushed into a metal cube.

Councillor David Payne, Kirklees cabinet member for environment and transportation, said: "The sole purpose of this event is to publicise and inform motorists that we are getting tough with owners of unlicensed and abandoned vehicles. There are substantial costs to deal with abandoned vehicles."

About 600 abandoned vehicles were removed and destroyed in Kirklees last year. The Council has a duty to remove abandoned vehicles from any part of a highway and open space, unless the vehicle owner objects, or removal costs appear unreasonably high.