youngsters are "risking their lives" by playing on dumped cars in Droitwich.

That's the warning of Cllr John Cook (Lab, Droit.West) who says that children need to be stopped from using the cars as play areas before one of them gets seriously injured.

Cllr Cook is also concerned about the length of time the cars are left on town streets by either Wychavon District Council or Droitwich Spa Housing Association, depending on whose land the car has been dumped on.

Speaking to The Advertiser he said: "Some of the cars have been there for months before they have been moved. It's ridiculous. It makes Droitwich look like a dumping ground."

He main concern however lies with the safety of town youngsters.

"Children are risking their lives by playing in these cars and it is only a matter of time before one of them will get seriously hurt.

"It is up to the parents and teachers to reinforce how dangerous it is to mess about in them or even try and start an abandoned car. They need to be moved quicker before it's too late and a child gets hurt."

Wychavon District Council's client services manager, Sharon Casswell, said: "Unfortunately abandoned vehicles are a problem nationally, but the Government has just come up with a document which means Wychavon District Council has new powers to move many cars within 24 hours, instead of seven days.

"This has to be put into practice, but I would like to add, Droitwich's situation is no worse than anywhere else in the district."

A spokeswoman for Spa Housing Association said: "The association issues seven day notices on abandoned vehicles. Unfortunately on occasions we do have problems arranging for them to be removed due to difficulties in finding contractors to undertake this work.

"This is a national problem and not just common to Droitwich Spa."