More than 70 vehicles have been crushed in a blitz against tax dodgers across the Thames Valley.

The operation in Oxfordshire by the Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency in February involved a one-day roadside blitz in Garsington Road, Cowley, which caught 17 drivers.

DVLA officers have continued to patrol the streets of Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire. The operation was based on DVLA statistics which estimated there were 59,000 road-tax evaders in the Thames Valley region,.

So far, more than 300 vehicles have been clamped. Of these, 180 have been released on payment of a release fee with a valid disc. About 70 vehicles were crushed after their drivers left them for more than five weeks.

Another 50 vehicles are still being held. Those considered roadworthy will be sold at auction - others will be crushed.

A DVLA spokesman said: "There are indications that people have heeded the warnings and gone to tax their cars. But for those who didn't, it's been a high price to pay. It cost drivers almost £600 for just under five weeks in the pound. We haven't got the final figures for the campaign yet, but it was successful."

A second offensive targeted unlicensed Heavy Goods Vehicles. Figures are not yet available but the DVLA said it had been a success.