Oxfordshire councils could be given powers to crush cars and charge their owners under plans to rid the country of abandoned vehicles.

Oxford City Council street warden Sahira Blackwell spreads the message about clamping of untaxed cars

Although the number of cars dumped is rising across the UK, in 2003-04 1,325 abandoned vehicles were reported to Oxford City Council - a 28 per cent fall from the 1,841 in the previous year.

Initiatives such as the clamping of untaxed vehicles tracked down with the help of the DVLA are thought to be helping the city buck the national trend, but plans to give councils extra powers to penalise car dumpers have been welcomed.

Under the Government's anti-dumping strategy, councils will have the right to remove abandoned cars and crush them without notice to the owner.

They will also be able to levy removal, storage and disposal fees.

The plans, announced by Home Office Minister Keith Hill, aim to cut the number of abandoned cars by 25 per cent in the next three years.

Susan Brown, Oxford City Council's executive member for community safety, said: "We welcome the new powers. Abandoned vehicles not only blight the environment, they can also be a danger.

"We will continue to work hard to reduce the number of abandoned vehicles, and to take away those reported to us as quickly as possible." The main reason for the rising tide of abandoned vehicles is thought to be the drop in the price of steel, which has seen the scrap trade suffer. Dealers are now charging people to dispose of cars, when they used to pay for the metal.

Under existing regulations, people who abandon a car in Oxford are issued with a notice to remove it. If it is in a dangerous condition or considered a target for arsonists, it can be impounded within 24 hours.

In June last year, police and council staff joined forces to clear abandoned cars after a spate of arson attacks in Barton and Headington, and 14 vehicle fires in Marston Ferry Road in nine days.

During the operation 21 cars were removed and the owners of three dangerous cars were given 15-day notices to remove them or face fines.

City council staff have also clamped more than 250 cars without a valid tax disc in the past year.

Investigating and removing nuisance vehicles costs councils in the UK £26m a year, while vehicle arson costs £230m a year to clean up. In Oxford alone, the cost of locating and removing abandoned vehicles is estimated at £50,000 a year.

Bernard Connolly, of the Vale of White Horse District Council's waste management team, warned the new powers would take time to implement.

"In addition to extra resources needed by councils, such as storage for these vehicles, the new rules would also have to be voted in by each council's members," he said.

"It's a good idea, but it won't happen overnight."