Over 4,500 cars were reported as abandoned in Brighton in the past three years, council data shows.

Stats sourced from Brighton and Hove City Council show that 4,696 reports of abandoned cars were received.

Data gathered from a Freedom of Information request by Scrap Car Comparison also suggests that the problem is worsening with the city ranking second in the country based on 2022 figures.

David Kottaun, operations manager at Scrap Car Comparison, said: “Abandoned cars don’t just create a problem by blocking part of a road, a path, parking space or by simply being a bit of an eyesore - they also pose a very serious risk to the environment.

“Cars can leak hazardous fluids which could contaminate soil and water supplies, while also releasing harmful toxins and chemicals into the air.

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“No matter how old a car may be, it is never a good idea to just ‘leave it behind’, with scrapping always being the environmentally friendly option.

“Beyond that, it is also the wallet-friendly option, because by simply ditching a car that has reached the end of its life, rather than scrapping it, you could be walking away from money.

“Of course, some cars are abandoned due to more suspicious circumstances, so if you feel you have spotted an abandoned vehicle, it is always worth reporting it to your local council”.

In the past year, 1,628 cars were reported as abandoned in Brighton and Hove, according to data from the council.

In the past three years, Brighton ranks third compared to other council areas in the UK, with Bradford and Coventry seeing more abandoned cars.

The study covers around 80 different councils in the country.