WYRE Forest District Council chiefs struggling to stem the tide of vehicles being dumped in the area have called for more Government cash to help them clean up.

Rob Key, head of environmental health, told a meeting of the council's executive committee last week the Government was giving local authorities new powers to tackle the blight of abandoned cars.

But he said more funding was needed to help put the new legislation into effect.

Members of the committee heard there had been a 300 per cent rise in the number of vehicles being abandoned in Wyre Forest over the last three years with the total set to rise to more than 1,500 a year by April.

Mr Key said: "Many cars are in a dangerous state, often vandalised or burnt-out and pose a threat to members of the public and, in particular, young children.

"They present a negative impression within many parts of Wyre Forest and have a detrimental effect on the environment which is being regularly reported in the local press.

"Abandoned vehicles are therefore a focus for the council's Grime's a Crime campaign." The campaign is run in conjunction with the Shuttle/Times & News.

He said it was no longer possible for the council to cope with the workload and an additional member of staff was needed to help overburdened staff tackle the rising numbers of dumped vehicles.

Members agreed to talks with the county council to secure funding for a part-time abandoned vehicle officer within the environmental health department on a one-year contract.

The committee also approved funding of £7,500 towards half the cost of removal contractors.

Mr Key added new powers would enable local authorities to remove wrecks more quickly, while longer term measures could involve improving the car registration scheme and tightening procedures for the sale and transfer of vehicles.