A GWENT council is proposing a 'zero tolerance' policy in the interests of road safety towards cars advertised for sale at busy junctions.

Caerphilly county borough council has drafted a policy that proposes to tow away and store any offending vehicle until the owner pays costs incurred.

The clampdown has been suggested because the existing procedure, of putting an orange fluorescent poster over vehicles requesting removal within 24 hours, has not worked.

In a report Mark Rees-Williams, the highways infrastructure manager for the council said: "Officers are aware that existing systems are proving largely ineffective as a deterrent.

"There are clearly a number of persistent offenders whose mobile telephone numbers regularly appear."

Under section 149 of the Highways Act 1980, local authorities can tow away any vehicle advertised for sale at busy locations as long as they can demonstrate it was causing danger to passing motorists.

The matter has already been approved before Cabinet and will be implemented once the council has advertised the policy.

A spokeswoman for the AA said she supported the council's tough stance.

She added: "Motorists have enough distractions on the road as it is, with bill posters and other advertisements. Cars for sale on the side of the road can only cause more 'rubber-necking.'

"I think the council's policy is a good one and I think motorists will be all for it.

"Showrooms are there for a reason and that is what they should be used for."

Councillor John Taylor, cabinet member for transport and planning, said: "We do get a lot of complaints from the public about this.

"This measure would be used sparingly because we wouldn't have the staff to be constantly out looking for these cars.

"We will target certain hot-spots in the county borough where it happens frequently by, it seems, the same vendors."