BURY road tax dodgers whose vehicles are targeted in a high-profile campaign could receive a "crushing" blow.

For crushing is the fate that could await some of the unlicensed cars which are wheel-clamped as part of the crackdown.

Latest figures released this week show that the estimated number of vehicle excise licence evaders in Bury is 3,100.

Now, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has joined other North West forces to assist the Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) in a month-long campaign to catch vehicle tax dodgers.

To ensure the campaign is successful in the GMP area, and as part of their normal patrol duties, officers will be noting and forwarding details of untaxed vehicles to the DVLA for them to follow inquiries. It is estimated there are more than 60,000 unlicensed vehicles throughout Greater Manchester, resulting in a revenue loss of around £8.8 million.

Many of the untaxed vehicles will have no insurance or test certificate which may also mean they have safety defects, possibly resulting in fatal or serious injuries should they become involved in an accident.

If a vehicle is wheel-clamped and not re-licensed, it will be crushed.

More than 149,000 vehicles are unlicensed in the North West with an income loss of almost £20 million.

The DVLA's new Stingray cameras will be touring the area, storing electronically the images of those vehicles found to be unlicensed.

Additionally, teams of wheel-clampers will stop and clamp any vehicle found to be unlicensed.

Since the introduction of the wheel-clamping scheme in 1997 in Greater Manchester, almost 22,000 motorists have relicensed their vehicles, bringing an income of £3 million.

In addition, 6,000 vehicles have been wheel-clamped and of these 2,500 have been crushed.

Not having a current tax disc could result in a fine of up to £1,000 for private vehicles and up to £23,000 for large goods vehicles.

It will cost £200 for a clamp to be removed. In addition, back duty and costs will be payable from the date the vehicle was last taxed.