Unroadworthy cars found for sale

Buyers are urged to check vehicles' registration documents

An investigation found one in four cars for sale at less than £5,000 in garages around Cumbria were unroadworthy.

Trading standards officers from Cumbria County Council worked with the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency to carry out the survey of garage forecourts.

They visited 13 garages and examined 44 cars. Eleven of them were declared unroadworthy and had prohibition notices served on the owners.

Faults needed to be rectified and cars re-examined before they could be used.

'Road safety vital'

The checks were carried out during the week starting 15 November. All 11 cars would have failed an MOT test.

Council head of trading standards Phil Ashcroft said: "We deliberately targeted the cheaper end of the car market.

"Young, inexperienced drivers are more likely to buy the older cars - it's what they can afford. We must not compromise with safety on the road, especially for the young driver."

Council community safety spokesman Jack Richardson said: "Safety on our county's roads is vital. It is important that all sellers of second-hand cars, business and private, ensure that their vehicles are fit for the roads."

The council's advice to people buying a used car includes checking the tyres, checking the vehicle registration document, taking it for a test drive and buying from an established garage.