USED car traders who turn grass verges and pavements in Bolton into car sales "forecourts" could soon be outlawed.

Council chiefs are looking at ways of banishing the unofficial dealers who they claim cause a menace to road users and residents.

An ever-increasing number of cars are being sold at the roadside on main routes throughout Bolton, with each vehicle bearing an advert in its window.

The traders are exposing a loophole in the law by using a different telephone number on each advert so they can claim to be private traders selling cars individually.

But Cllr Jim Gilfillan, whose Westhoughton North and Chew Moor ward is plagued by rogue car dealers, said: "They are using a loophole to trade their cars illegally.

"In some areas they are causing a danger because of where they have parked and in others they are a nuisance..1

"We need regulations that are strong enough to stop this from happening and hopefully the council will come up with that as soon as possible." Councillors and officers visited the Wirral where transport bosses are faced with the same problem.

Cllr David Wilkinson, the council's executive member for the environment, said officers were now investigating two options.

One would involve imposing strict traffic orders in the worst affected hot-spots for car sales.

Another solution could see the council placing licensing restrictions street-by-street to stop unofficial traders from operating.

Cllr Wilkinson said: "This isn't a matter confined to Westhoughton. A number of members from right across the borough have experienced similar problems.

"It seems to be a particular problem on main routes such as the A6 in Westhoughton.

"We are looking at two options. There are legal issues with both and one would require enforcement by parking attendants."