Birmingham drivers have been urged to ensure their car tax is valid after nearly 250 cars were taken off city streets in a crackdown.

The three-month operation, by the DVLA and NCP, saw 248 cars seized.

A DVLA spokesman said the crackdown helped to improve the safety of vehicles on Birmingham's roads because cars could only be taxed with a valid MOT and insurance certificate.

Bethan Beasley, head of wheel clamping at the DVLA, said: "We will continue our work in the north Birmingham area in the months to come and the results of this operation should make it clear to everyone that there is no hiding place for car tax cheats".

The vans used in the scheme were equipped with high-tech automatic number plate reader technology linked to a database of untaxed vehicles. Any vehicles that are identified as untaxed using the system are clamped immediately and possibly impounded.