Despite Gravesham council stepping up action against illegal car sales at the side of the road, sellers continue to flout the law.

At the end of last year, councillors agreed to undertake a high-profile campaign to clamp down on cars being sold in Rochester Road, Gravesend.

Two fixed penalty notices were given to Oluwole Olatunde of St Marks Road, Northfleet, on March 3 for displaying two vehicles for sale on the highway outside the Harvester in Rochester Road.

Olatunde acknowledged that he was in breach of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 by displaying two vehicles on January 10 and paid the fine.

But the tough new stance is failing to deter the car sellers who use the road as an ad-hoc showroom.

This week there were at least eight cars for sale along Rochester Road, some of which have had letters slapped on the windscreen from residents complaining they cannot park close to their homes.

Because the vehicles all have valid tax discs, they cannot be towed away by the authorities.

Police say insurance details can only be ascertained when the owner of the vehicle is present.

The council is working with Kent Highways and Trading Standards to develop a campaign to further target roadside car sales in the borough.

A council spokesman said “When motor vehicle traders place a number of cars for sale, for an extended period, on the street it can cause a significant nuisance to locals, often meaning that they cannot park their own vehicles near to their homes.

“We hope that by taking action others will be dissuaded from using the side of the road as a car showroom.”