THE cars of more than 10,000 uninsured drivers have been taken off the streets of Greater Manchester since a hi-tech crackdown was launched in January.

Police patrols fitted with cameras that checks number plates against insurance records have helped to catch the rogue drivers.

The roadside traps have been set up at locations across Greater Manchester and police have powers to seize vehicles unless owners can proved that they are insured within 14 days.

Police chiefs say uninsured drivers are six times more likely to have been convicted of driving unroadworthy vehicles, and nine times more likely to have been convicted of drink-driving.

Sgt Paul Philbin, of Greater Manchester Police, said: "The number of drivers that are driving on the roads illegally is staggering, and we are determined to put a stop to this activity and make the roads safer for everyone."

The Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system has been hailed as the best crimefighting tool since DNA profiling.

Cameras mounted on police car dashboards are linked to national ownership and insurance databases, as well as police computers.

Police believe five per cent of motorists drive while uninsured and say they cost each law-abiding road user an average of £30 per year.