AN estimated 52,000 cars in Greater Manchester are untaxed - the equivalent of £6.5 million worth of unpaid duty.

The DVLA will be visiting the Trafford Centre on March 5 with an advice surgery designed to help tackle the problem of car tax evasion.

The surgery will outline to drivers the new car tax rules and how these impact on road safety throughout the Greater Manchester area.

DVLA will be advising local motorists, 30 per cent of whom have not updated their driving licence details with change of name and/or address details, on how they can do so easily and avoid a £1,000 fine.

In addition, vehicle owners wishing to purchase a personalised registration mark will be able to search DVLA's extensive database of over 19 million registrations.

DVLA spokesman Wynne Keenan said: "We are visiting Manchester in a bid to drive down vehicle crime in the area, and improve road safety."