AMID much publicity, and from time to time, the DVLA - Driver Vehicle Licensing Authority - tell us of the fate of vehicles and their owners if they have an unlicensed vehicle in use or parked on the public highway.

I have, over the past three years, attempted to elicit a response from the DVLA, Police and the Local Authority, with regard to offending vehicles and their owners - all to no avail.

Six weeks ago I reported a van to the DVLA (Tel: 08000 325 202) - there has not been a response to this. I also contacted "Abandoned Vehicles" (Tel: 0161 872 5050 - Greater Manchester Police), gave details, reg no, make. "We do not have a registered owner for this vehicle," they said, "where is the vehicle?" "Parked in back XY street," I said. "We haven't got a street with that name, so we can't help," they replied.

End of story? Not quite.

"Back XY Street" was constructed to the Local Authority Highways specification some six years ago, but remains unadopted!

It is, nevertheless, a highway, along which the public may have access - but especially suited for untaxed and abandoned vehicles.

(Name and address supplied)