A BOLTON Euro MP is calling for checks on the scrapping of cars in Britain after he claimed that the current arrangements were in chaos.

MEP Chris Davies has asked the European Commission to investigate allegations that the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in Swansea has been flouting a new law intended to encourage recycling.

Mr Davies, the Liberal Democrat environment spokesman in the European Parliament, says only 500,000 Certificates of Destruction are expected to be issued this year, a document which proves that the vehicle has been scrapped and road tax is no longer due.

But two million cars are expected to be scrapped - which suggests as many as 1.5 million cars will instead be dismantled by their owners or an unauthorised scrapyard.

And car owners can claim they have scrapped the car simply by ticking a box on their vehicle registration document.

Mr Davies says this goes against the End-of-Life Vehicles Directive, which became UK law in 2003.

It requires potential contaminants such as oil, brake fluid, tyres and airbags to be removed from cars before they are scrapped. Old cars must be taken to one of 1,200 Authorised Treatment Facilities licensed by the Environment Agency.

Mr Davies said: "If car owners are not issued with a Certificate of Destruction, they cannot be sure the vehicle dismantler has been properly registered, that their car will be dismantled safely, or that the environment will be protected."