A community leader is urging people to respect the Highlands by not dumping vehicles across the region.
He claims to have unearthed several dozen within a few miles of his home on the east side of Inverness.
Smithton and Culloden Community Council chairman David McGrath warned of an escalation of such fly-tipping because of an apparent slump in scrap value and the subsequent cost of uplifting vehicles.
Police responded immediately to his complaint earlier this week when raised by the Press and Journal, visiting several locations he had highlighted.
Mr McGrath cited “about 20” abandoned vehicles locally, within a short walk from his home including MacDonald Court, MacLean Court and around the Stratton lane.
“They’re out of tax, out of MOT. They’ve been there for a while and they’re not going anywhere,” he said.
“It’s apalling. Nobody wants to take ownership of the problem.
“They’re all trying to avoid it because they’d have to pay to get these things uplifted if they can’t trace the owner and force the owner to pay.
“They’re on a public road, so the owners are breaking the law but you notify the police about these things and they say it’s the council’s responsibility to pick up abandoned cars.”
He claimed the problem had escalated in recent months because the value of scrap had “crashed.”
Mr McGrath said he had also contacted the new council-run parking warden service but was told it was not a matter for them.
Local police officers were quick to respond but questioned the scale of the problem.
Unless a vehicle is considered hazardous, for example excessively damaged or causing an obstruction, it is not considered a police matter.
One vehicle appeared to have been deserted for some time on a patch of grass at Stratton Road but was not deemed to be causing an obstruction.
An officer will pass the details to Highland Council to decide whether to pursue it as the grass is on council land.
A spokeswoman for the force said: “Officers from community beats responded to the concerns by carrying out vehicle inspections where deemed necessary. Details of vehicles will be shared with the local authority for follow-up.
“Officers will continue to advise anyone with concerns about abandoned vehicles to contact the local authority or if the vehicle is considered dangerous to contact the police on 101.”