Londonderry motorists squander thousands on MOTs

Over seven thousand vehicle owners did not attend MOT test appointments for cars, motorcycles, light and heavy goods vehicles and PSV buses and taxis in Londonderry between 2005 and 2010.

The non-attendance resulted in between 250,000 and 500,000 being squandered by local motorists.

Car owners were the most profligate drivers with 5,477 not turning up at the local MOT test centre and being left out of pocket as a result.

Lights goods vehicles (1006), heavy goods vehicles (499), motorcycles (176), trailers (170) and PSV vehicles (168) accounted for the rest.

The figures were released by the Environment Minister Edwin Poots in response to a Written Question at the Assembly.