More than a million cars are being illegally scrapped every year, according to environmental website Clean Green Cars.

It claims End of Life Vehicle Regulations have failed, and a huge number of cars are reaching landfills without lubricants, tyres and airbags being removed.

Despite over 2 million cars being taken off the road last year in 2006, government figures show that just 900,000 Certificates of Destruction (CoDs) and Notices of Destruction were issued that year.

These figures come despite the 2003 End of Life Vehicle Regulations, which required cars to be 'de-polluted' and recycled at licensed Authorised Treatment Facilities.

Clean Green Cars has blamed a loophole on the DVLA's continuous licensing scheme.

Under this system, owners are supposed to pay road tax until a Certificate of Destruction had been obtained from a licensed dismantler.

However, a tick-box on the V5 registration form means last owners, or unlicensed dismantlers and shredders can simply de-register a vehicle.

This allows un-licensed operators can plunder valuable scrap materials and dump untreated waste from unwanted cars without fear of suffering any consequences.

"Weak links in the chain"

"The rules were set up to ensure carmakers worked with the recycling industry to improve recovery rates, cut down on pollution and end illegal car dumping, said Jay Nagley of Clean Green Cars.

"DVLA records - and a system poorly policed by the Environment Agency - have become weak links in the chain. "