A SCHEME to help prevent cars being abandoned on Dorset's highways, byways and driveways is proving a major success.

Since Dorset county council launched its amnesty for residents with unwanted vehicles on their hands at the start of January, 66 cars have been collected and disposed of.

The collection scheme - run in conjunction with Dorset Police and Dorset Fire and Rescue Service - is free of charge, and the council is encouraging people to take advantage of the offer before it closes at the end of February.

Hilary Cox, county council cabinet member for environment, said:"The amnesty has been extremely successful so far, and is making a real difference. It will cost you nothing to get that rusting wreck of a vehicle off your hands if you hurry up and arrange for it to be collected before the end of February."

Around 250 cars are abandoned in the county each year, often blighting residential areas or rural locations.

Owners can find it difficult to sell ageing vehicles, while some cars may be beyond repair and cannot easily be disposed of.

But instead of leaving them to rot on their driveways, or dumping them on the roadside, owners can simply call W&S Recycling on (01202) 675564 and arrange a free collection.

The amnesty deal covers cars in overgrown or hard-to-reach spots, but the vehicle must belong to the resident concerned.

A Certificate of Destruction(CoD) will be issued so that the owner will be able to prove they have complied with End of Life Vehicle regulations, and all cars taken away will be recycled.

The scheme aims not only reducing blights on Dorset's landscape but - with such vehicles often providing an easy target for arson and vandalism - also helping to combat crime.

It costs around £1,000 for the fire and rescue service to remove a burnt-out car, so the 66 collected so far have provided huge potential savings for taxpayers.