DUMPED cars, many of which eventually end up ablaze, have become a plague for some parts of Worcestershire.

The reason behind it is clearly an economic one - the falling price of scrap metal has meant that fewer businesses are prepared to take old vehicles off the hands of their owners.

The result is, at best, the creation of a nuisance that annoys neighbours and, at worst, a danger that could cost someone their life.

Take, for example, the problem of dumped vehicles in the Malvern area, which we report on Page 9 today.

Last year, the Malvern Hills Conservators saw 37 dumped on the hills - and the district council had to deal with 400 reports of abandoned vehicles.

And since the start of this year, firefighters have been called to 12 vehicle fires, eight of which are thought to have been arson attacks.

Now the police, fire service, council and Conservators are tackling the problem. They believe that by working together they can find those responsible for setting fire to vehicles.

The district council hopes that a combination of the quick removal of dumped cars, and increased prosecutions, will lead to a reduction in the problem. We support that aim - and hope that such initiatives will have a similar effect across the county.