A CAR salvage firm based in Bolton is celebrating after recovering its 10,000th car from the streets of Greater Manchester.

Metro Salvage, of Waterloo Street near Bolton town centre, collects vehicles which have been mostly been abandoned.

Many have been used in crimes and are untaxed, uninsured and have no MOT.

The firm reclaims valuable scrap metals which it passes on to other companies for re-use.

It also removes items such as engines, gearboxes, wing mirrors and stereos, which can be refurbished for sale as used parts.

The whole process, called "depollution" is required by law for vehicles which are being scrapped. Customers include the police, Bolton Community Homes and Manchester City Council.

Metro spokesman Les Lovatt said: "It's good to have dealt with our 10,000th car.

"Manchester City Council has a job to clear vehicles which could pose a threat to the public - especially if they are set on fire - and we are happy to process them.

"The Environment Agency says we now have to recover 85 per cent of each vehicle, which is extremely difficult because the industry used to be a bit more rough-and-ready.

"But we're fully aware that we have to move forward if we want to survive - and business is good."

Metro also works for companies such as HM Recovery in Horwich, which passes on cars from the authorities.

It also deals with cars which have been involved in accidents.