Transport minister Stephen Byers has set out how the government intends to tackle the growing problem of cars being abandoned on Britain's streets.

With over one third of a million vehicles estimated to have been dumped in Britain last year, the minister visited the London Borough of Lewisham where a pilot project has been underway to improve the way in which local authorities deal with abandoned cars.

Byers met Lewisham council officials and representatives of the emergency services as he launched consultations on ways in which the government wants to make it tougher for the owners of abandoned vehicles to evade their responsibilities.

"Dumped cars are an increasing eyesore on our streets and a real danger to children who are attracted to them as playgrounds. Too often they are also a target for local arsonists. Our proposals published today aim to get dumped cars off the streets quickly and efficiently," said Byers.

Options under consideration by the government include reducing notice periods required before local authorities can remove abandoned vehicles, cutting times before vehicles can be destroyed, increasing the powers of local authorities to act on unlicensed vehicles and improving access for local government to Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency records.

The government is also to begin consultations on longer-term proposals for legislation to improve the accuracy of DVLA records through a system of continuous registration and a more rigorous regime for registering the transfer of vehicles. The government wants more of those who dump cars to be tracked down and prosecuted.

Abandoning a vehicle is a criminal offence, with penalties of up to £2500 in fines or three months imprisonment, or both. At present, difficulties in tracing the person who is currently in position of an abandoned vehicle mean the number of convictions are negligible.

The plans would see abandoned vehicles handled according to whether they have any remaining value. Those that do not would be removed in 24 hours, down from the present seven days, while those that do have value could be removed after seven to 14 days.

Unlicensed vehicles without value would then be destroyed in seven days instead of the current 35 days, while those with value would be destroyed two weeks after their removal.

The main cause behind the growing problem of abandoned cars is the decline in the value of scrap metal. In 1998 scrap metal was worth around £35 a tonne, but this has now declined to just £10 a tonne. While scrap metal dealers used to pay drivers approximately £50 for their old cars, drivers now have to pay the dealers around £40 to take their cars.

Welcoming the consultation period, which will continue until January 31 2002, environment minister Michael Meacher said the problem was "emerging as one of the biggest menaces facing our towns and cities".

"They are not only an eyesore, but can become a potential firebomb. With these tough new measures we are determined to stamp out the problem," said Meacher.

The moves could also help to reduce the financial burden on local authorities having to deal with the abandoned cars. In the 2000/01 financial year the London borough of Newham spent £129,614 on disposing abandoned vehicles, while Luton Borough council spent £61,400.