Abandoned van left near homes in Astley Bridge 'for more than a year'

Now they are calling for new restrictions to stop vehicles being dumped in their street.

Residents say unused cars are being left in parking bays for months at a time in Coop Street, Astley Bridge.

They describe the situation as a "nightmare" and have reported the problem to the Bolton Council and the DVLA.

Now council officials have attached notices to vehicles suspected of being abandoned, asking the owners to contact the council.

A council spokesman said: “We were made aware of vehicles parked on the land in Coop Street last year. Officers visited the site in November and all the vehicles parked on the area at that time were deemed not to have been abandoned.

“Officers returned to the site this week and attached notices to vehicles suspected of being abandoned. If the council is not contacted within seven working days a vehicle will be classed as abandoned and collected for disposal.”

A white Vauxhall van, silver Audi A4 and black Fiat Punto are currently parked over four bays in the street.

According to locals, the white van has been there for at least a year.

Residents say that over the past couple of years, around seven or eight different cars have been dumped in the area.

They are now calling on council bosses to provide permits and residents-only spaces.

One Coop Street resident, who asked not to be named, said: “Cars been parked there for over a year without being moved.

“There are three vehicles taking over four or five spaces on the street. It’s just a nightmare.”

The woman will be celebrating a milestone birthday this year and says she is worried that family visiting from the USA would not be able to park nearby.

Another resident claims most of the vehicles parked there over the past year were not taxed and some had the registration plates removed.

He said: “Because it’s quiet and a dead end street, people think they can just dump stuff.

“Parking these cars here is just selfish and wrong.”