The Daily Echo has received the Prime Minister’s seal of approval in its bid to rid the streets of abandoned cars.

Tony Blair backed the campaign on the same day he announced new measures to give the authorities greater powers to remove car wrecks more quickly.

Mr Blair said: “I’m delighted to lend my support to the Bournemouth Daily Echo’s campaign against abandoned vehicles.

“Abandoned vehicles can encourage crime and make areas look run-down, that is why I have announced plans to tackle the problem.

“We will press for maximum fines to be imposed on those people who abandon cars and we are looking at how to get vehicles clamped and removed within 24 hours.”

The announcement is part of a new pilot scheme to be tested in central London in a bid to rid the streets of graffiti, litter as well as burnt-out cars.

If it is a success it could be in action across the rest of the country in a matter of months.

The Echo’s campaign began ten days ago, after several complaints from its readers about abandoned wrecks, and follows hot on the heels of Dumped a campaign which also pressurised the authorities into acting faster to deal with the problem of wrecks.

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