Scilly drivers face call for MoTs

There are 800 vehicles on the islands off the west coast

Scilly Isles drivers should be forced to put their vehicles through MoTs say local police.

Tests on islanders' vehicles are carried out on a voluntary basis twice a year by vehicle examiners and police.

But many unroadworthy vehicles never come under scrutiny, as the owners put their vehicles out of sight.

Now police are calling for a compulsory MoT for the islands' 800 vehicles, most of which are on St Mary's which has just nine miles of road.

The jungle drums start and a lot of unroadworthy vehicles are taken off the road and hidden away Pc Steve Gardner

Pc Steve Gardner, one of the two police officers on the Scillies, said the current checks could be avoided by unscrupulous islanders.

"The jungle drums start and a lot of unroadworthy vehicles are taken off the road and hidden away.

"We would welcome an MoT, or some kind of compulsory test for vehicles on the islands."

He said six of the last batch of 20 vehicles tested failed the safety scrutiny.

Dangerous vehicles were taken off the road immediately, said Pc Gardner.

But in other cases motorists were advised to get necessary work done, and were obliged to return the vehicle for a re-examination.

"We can keep a check because we know who drives which vehicle," said Pc Gardner.