DRIVERS in the Vale have been warned to be on their guard against unscrupulous garages carrying out work which isn't needed.

The warning has come from Worcestershire County Council's trading standards department, which found nine out of ten garages surveyed altered wheel tracking which was correct - with one even changing it outside the settings recommended by the manufacturer.

Trading standards officers carried out the survey in June after complaints from motorists that garages and tyre fitting depots were carrying out unnecessary work.

They gave the investigation priority status since it is almost impossible to safeguard against the practice.

The businesses tested were located across Worcestershire and were a mix of national, regional and independent tyre depots.

Enforcement officer David Hough said: "These results are extremely worrying, especially as there is nothing that consumers can do to prevent unnecessary work being carried out.

"The consumer has to completely rely on the garage or tyre depot and this survey shows they are abusing the consumers' trust."

Councillor Derek Prodger, county council cabinet member for the environment, said: "It is disgusting that so many garages and tyre depots appear to be making money by charging for unnecessary work.

"This case highlights the vital work that trading standards carries out to protect consumers in the county and I hope that any opportunist garages will now realise they can be caught out."

The garages and depots which failed the test are currently under investigation, a county council spokeswoman said today.

It is not yet known whether any prosecutions will follow the survey.