Residents and businesses have welcomed police action to seize 16 vehicles parked up on two Blackburn streets.

Officers teamed up with local agencies to shift the ‘abandoned and illegal’ vehicles from Dickens Street and Highfield Road.

Last week, eleven vehicles were seized by the DVLA for no tax and a further four were removed under Section 99 for abandonment.

Another vehicle was seized under Section 59 for causing ‘distress, alarm or being using in an anti-social manner’.

Blackburn Police also issued tickets to four vehicles which were obstructing the pavement alongside parking services who issued numerous tickets for cars parking on double yellow lines.

A car is ticketed for parking on the pavement

Dickens Street was described as a ‘nightmare’ by local residents.

One man who regularly uses the road said it had become impossible to navigate the stretch on some days.

He told us: “It has been going on for far too long and nobody has taken any action.

"Some of the local businesses have been taking advantage and using the roads as extra car parks.

“There are so many cars just parked up and don’t have tax. I am glad some action has finally been taken.

“It is really bad for the residents who have nowhere to park.”

The crackdown has been welcomed by residents and businesses

Neighbourhood inspector, Kathryn McIntyre, said “We know that vehicles being abandoned can be hazardous for our communities, as well as cause a real eyesore for our local residents.

“We are glad to be able to remove these vehicles off our streets and will continue to work closely with our partners to tackle this issue.”