UP to 200 cars have been clamped in a crackdown on untaxed vehicles in Bournemouth and the New Forest.

The DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) has been working with wheel clampers to immobilise offending vehicles in the area since April 4.

By midday on Wednesday, a total of 168 vehicles had been clamped and the operation was still ongoing.

Areas affected included New Milton where 26 vehicles were clamped over the weekend and Boscombe in Bournemouth where 12 vehicles in neighbouring streets were immobilised.

Motorists were greeted with signs on their windscreens which said: "Stop. Do not attempt to move this untaxed vehicle. It is an offence to interfere with the wheel clamp. It is an offence to remove this notice."

It costs around £100 to have the clamp removed.

A spokesman for the DVLA said clamping is one of a number of measures used to ensure tax is paid.

The organisation can send out late licensing penalties from the record if tax is not paid on time and Automatic Number Plate Recognition can also pick up offending vehicles.

DVLA also works closely with police and local authorities to tackle the nuisance of untaxed and abandoned vehicles.

A DVLA Spokesman said: "It’s an offence not to tax a vehicle before it’s driven on the road. While DVLA does tell drivers when their tax is due by sending reminders and last chance notices, action will be taken against those who don’t tax their vehicles, otherwise it wouldn’t be fair on those who do the right thing.

"Nearly 99 per cent of vehicles on the road are taxed correctly."