BOLTON has been named and shamed today as one of the worst areas in the Greater Manchester region for car tax dodgers.

There are an estimated 5,500 motorists on the town's roads who are driving untaxed cars, lorries and motorcycles.

They are contributing to £19.9 million in lost revenue across the North-west that is owed to the Government.

The figure was revealed as a month-long clampdown on tax dodgers begins today in the region.

The police will be helping the DVLA in the campaign to catch motorists who are trying untaxed cars, lorries and motorcycles.

New Stingray cameras will be touring the area, electronically storing the images of those vehicles found to be unlicensed.

Bury is also one of the worst areas, with an estimated 3,100 number of evaders. In Leigh there are 1,200 road tax dodgers.

Wheel clamping hit squads will be operating and they will clamp any vehicle which is not licensed.

Roadside checks will also be set up to detect motorists committing other offences, including having no insurance or MoT certificates, and other serious road safety offences.

A spokesman for the DVLA said: "The message to anyone using an unlicensed vehicle is: 'Your Number is Up: Don't risk it, tax it'.

"There are more than 260 post offices throughout the North-west where tax discs can be obtained, so there is no excuse for breaking the law."

Anyone caught without a current tax disc could be fined up to £1,000 for private vehicles and up to £23,000 for large goods vehicles.

It will cost £200 for a clamp to be removed and in addition, back duty and costs will be payable from the date the vehicle was last taxed. If the vehicle is wheel clamped and not re-licensed, it will be crushed.