A community leader has issued a fresh plea for abandoned cars to be cleared from residential streets in Inverness.
They have been branded eyesores but have been told by council officials that the issue has been exaggerated.
Cradlehall and Westhill Community Council chairman Duncan MacPherson has carried out his own patrol of the city, photographing examples.
He cited vehicles in Inshes, Smithton, Culloden and North Kessock, reporting the details to the police and Highland Council.
Mr MacPherson said: “I hope the police add these to the crime statistics.
“That way the authorities can measure the extent of a growing problem as a result of the diminishing world value of scrap metal from old and scrap cars, where some cars are only worth £10.”
Among the vehicles he reported was a VW Passat estate opposite Inshes Retail Park and issued with council penalty charge notices, a Vauxhall Astra van at Tower Road in Culloden and a Rover at the A9 southbound junction at North Kessock.
A spokeswoman for Highland Council said the VW in a bus layby east of the Inshes roundabout was “not considered abandoned,” and that the Astra van had valid road tax and MOT and had since moved.
She said the Rover had been checked over and had a “local authority aware” sticker attached to it.
She added: “We’re awaiting a DVLA check to try and trace the registered keeper and will follow it up in due course in accordance with our protocol for abandoned cars.”
Both the council and the police are aware of the car in a bus layby east of Inshes roundabout.
The council urges anyone spotting abandoned vehicles to report them by phoning its service centre on 01349 886606 or online at www.highland.gov.uk/report
The police have the authority to tow any vehicle left in a position causing a danger or obstruction. Such a scenario should be reported to the force by phoning 101 or contacting the local police station.