CASTLEFIELD residents want dumped vehicles to be taken off their streets before a child gets hurt.

A community safety plan drawn up by Castlefield Residents Association placed safety as its number one priority but residents say the lack of police powers to remove burnt out cars is putting children at risk.

Diana Glasgow, 30, member of Castlefield Safety Group, is sick and tired of reporting abandoned cars to find them burnt out days later.

She said: "If a car is dumped it is stripped within days. As soon as it is ticketed by police it is burnt out. It's disgraceful as it not only affects the area's appearance but it is a hazard for our children."

The association suggests the introduction of a car pound where cars would go if left for five days. They are also demanding vandalised vehicles are removed the same day.

High Wycombe Mayor Nigel Vickery said: "Something has to be done soon. They are a nuisance and they should be cleared."

A spokesman for Wycombe District Council said: "We are committed to removing all vehicles as rapidly as possible.

"Our policy is to use 'seven days to destruction' notices but where vehicles are considered to pose an unacceptable risk they are either removed by the police or by the council's contractor without use of the seven day notices."

Vehicles should be reported to the Technical Support Team on 01494 421415.