The number of cars being abandoned on Dublin's streets has rocketed.
Three years ago, 148 cars were ditched across the four local authority areas.
However, last year that figure rose to almost 460 and is expected to rise even further in 2017.
Most abandoned cars tend to be between 15 and 20 years old.
Local authorities believe the massive increase is down to the falling price of scrap metal. But Westlink Recovery Services has told 98FM News there are other factors which lead people to abandoning their cars.
Gary Kinsella says they include apartment residents who can't afford the high cost of parking charges, young men who buy a car only to find out they can't afford the insurance, and the refusal of some firms to insure older vehicles.
He says people often try to dispose of their motors by answering Cash 4 Cars advertisements, only to find out months later that the person it took it off their hands wracked up massive fines before abandoning it in a housing estate.
"There's a big long system in trying to find the owner, and when you do that an notify them it's about to be scrapped, they usually say 'please destroy it because I don't want any more problems with this car.'
