TORCHED cars have become an everyday sight in Worce-ster and Hereford, with firefighters being called to deal with at least one a day.

They were called to douse 3,127 cars, vans and motorbikes deliberately set alight between May 1997 and September 2004, a rate of 34 a month.

As well as the cost to the taxpayer, lives are put at risk each time firefighters are called to douse a blazing vehicle.

"We have to attend, because there is always a possibility of explosion and, who knows, there might be someone in the vehicle," said Alec Mackie, spokesman for the fire and rescue service.

A few years ago a Range Rover fitted with a liquid petroleum gas cylinder (LPG) exploded after being set alight in a field near Ombersley.

"The roof blew off and landed more than 100ft away, so it was just as well we didn't arrive a few moments earlier," said Mr Mackie.

Last November the Government launched a drive to clear abandoned cars from Britain's streets, because they act as a magnet for crime, anti-social behaviour and arson. It included giving councils more powers to fine offenders and seize cars causing a nuisance.

Dealing with vehicles abandoned in Worcester cost the city and county councils £56,206 in 2004-2005. Technical support manager Tim Allen, of the city's operational services department, said they investigated 478 vehicles suspected of being abandoned and eventually scrapped 101.

"We have to go and look at each one and the majority turn out not to be abandoned," he said.

"It is difficult to specify the cost per vehicle, because there is potentially a lot of work involved before we can remove it.

"But if it is a danger to the public, it can be removed within 24 hours."

Mr Allen said Worcester's peak year for abandoned cars was 2002-2003, when 912 cases were investigated and 414 vehicles were removed and scrapped.

"It has dropped off since then, probably because the market in scrap steel has improved.

"Previously it was hard for owners to get rid of scrap vehicles," he said.