Council chiefs have launched a crackdown on illegal street car traders who have been disrupting the lives of residents and businesses in Great Horton.

A campaign was launched by Labour councillor Rev Paul Flowers after a number of complaints that the car traders were limiting access to houses and businesses.

Now Bradford Council is clamping down on the illegal traders, who are not allowed to sell cars from a public roadside. Coun Flowers pledged to drive out the car sellers from the streets after he was told vehicles were being offered for sale at an increasing number of sites in Great Horton.

Residents were experiencing particular problems outside the Co-op in Great Horton Road and in Moore Avenue and Beckside Road.

Coun Flowers wrote to West Yorkshire trading standards department demanding action to prosecute offenders and prevent improper trading.

He said: "This is a quality of life issue that affects people's ability to go about their legitimate business and is detrimental to local traders. The anti-social actions of a few ignorant people, who clearly feel that the rules do not apply to them, have a negative impact upon the many law-abiding road users."

Fellow Great Horton Labour councillor John Godward said: "People have been putting their cars up for sale in parking areas, which is illegal because you are not allowed to sell a car from the roadside. There were three cars parked regularly in a designated parking bay near the Co-op, which prevented people from using the bays."

A Bradford Council spokesman said: "We are aware of people selling cars illegally in Great Horton and are taking action against some individuals to stop them trading. Allegations of illegal car trading are investigated by the Council."