A CRACKDOWN on abandoned and torched vehicles is being launched in Malvern.

West Mercia Police, Hereford and Worcester Fire Service, Malvern Hills District Council and the Malvern Conservators have united to try to reduce the amount of abandoned cars and arson attacks in the area.

The launch follows a huge increase in the number of incidents over the past few months, partly blamed on the demise of the scrap metal market.

Since January, firefighters have been called to 12 vehicle fires, eight of which were recorded as arson.

Malvern Hills Conservators saw 37 vehicles dumped on the hills in 2001, and the district council had 400 reports of abandoned vehicles.

The initiative will combine a poster campaign with a planned increase in prosecutions for vehicle dumping and an increase in the removal of dumped cars.

Sergeant Rob Werner-de-Sondberg of Malvern Police, said one teenager had already been arrested and charged for allegedly dumping a car.

"The message is simple - working together we can get the evidence required to prosecute offenders and, as one teenager recently found to his cost, we do," he said.

"The laws are changing and, working together, we can, and will, prosecute those who abandon cars."

The fire service has highlighted the dangers of setting fire to vehicles, which can result in huge explosions and fireballs, putting lives at risk.

The Conservators have also warned that cattle can be injured by dumped cars and vehicles left on the hills can easily roll down and injure someone.

Andrew McCausland, assistant engineer at the council, said they were in the process of tendering for contractors to remove abandoned vehicles.

"We hope this combination of quicker removal, generally to only one day, and increased prosecutions will lead to a reduction of what has become an all-too common eyesore and hazard within our community," he added.