ABANDONED cars on the streets of Swindon could soon be a thing of the past.

Swindon Council has signed up to a high speed computer link that will allow staff to trace owners of dumped vehicles within days instead of weeks.

A car dumped on the doorstep of Old Town's fire stricken Locarno has been removed by the council after the Evening Advertiser highlighted the problem.

The vehicle is an example of why some cars are left lying on the streets for weeks.

The council already operates a 24-hour response service for vehicles left in a dangerous state.

But delays occur when a car is not in a dangerous state and the council must trace the owners through the Driver Vehicle and Licensing Agency (DVLA).

Until now the council had to write to the DVLA requesting details of who owned the car, then wait for a reply, a process which took up to six weeks.

The new system means the process will take just 10 days. The service is free and will be up and running by July.

George Walker, who is in charge of removing abandoned vehicles for Swindon Council, said: "We have now signed up to an agreement with the DVLA that will give us a direct computer link, meaning we get an instant response to our queries.

"This will be up and running in two to three weeks. However, we we do not think abandoned cars are a huge problem here.

"The best explanation I can give for the car staying outside the Locarno is that we were probably trying to trace the owner through the DVLA, which takes time. Now it has been reported the car has been removed."

The vandalised Hyundai Stellar car was taken away from The Square in Old Town after being left there for months. It had no road tax, was unlocked and occupied three parking spaces.

Last year the council disposed of 1,500 abandoned vehicles, a figure up from 533 in 2001.

It spends about £100,000 each year clearing up abandoned cars left littered around the borough.

The reason for the rise is new Government legislation which states that the last owner of every vehicle must pay for the scrapping and recycling costs.

The new rules followed the European Union's End-of-Life Vehicles directive.

It costs the council £75 to dispose of each vehicle, and the vehicles are taken under contract to Highworth Breakers in Cheney Manor.

To report an abandoned vehicle call the council's hotline on Swindon 463463.