The growing problem of unwanted cars being abandoned and burnt out in rural Staffordshire has been highlighted this week.

Staffordshire County Councillor, Barry Stamp said he was concerned that over the past few weeks the problem of cars being abandoned and burnt out in the Little Onn and Marston areas was growing at an alarming rate.

"One really must start to ask why the Little Onn area of Staffordshire has suddenly been targeted as a good place to get rid of unwanted vehicles. In the last two months, four have been abandoned within a couple of miles of each other. In one case a group of youths were seen setting fire to the car, but by the time the police arrived they had long disappeared. However, even those cars that are left intact are soon reduced to piles of wrecked and twisted scrap. While you could imagine this problem occurring in the middle of city, it is hard to understand how it happens in a rural community miles from any large town. Whoever abandons the cars must have an accomplice, as without another vehicle close by it would be a very long walk home. One can only think these cars are either unwanted by their present owner who cannot be bothered to drive them to a scrap yard, are abandoned by joy-riders, or are left after being involved in a crime. While it might be a cheap way to get rid of your unwanted car, the cost of removing the wreck then has to be met in most cases by the Borough Council. I would ask anyone who sees anything suspicious to contact the police immediately and to make a note of the registration number of any other vehicle that is in the vicinity. For my own part, I will be writing to the Chief Constable asking that the police respond more quickly to reports of cars being abandoned. This is a problem that is not only making this part of rural Staffordshire an eyesore, but is also costing ratepayer thousands of pounds a year to put right," said Councillor Stamp.