When former car salesman Ian Hardman bought a new Subaru Impreza, he never realised it would cause him so many problems.

But, the Leyland man has not had any trouble under the bonnet, his private number plate is causing the bother.

He thought he had properly registered plate M111 HAH, which make up the initials of him and his wife, Helen, on the car he bought last September.

So he got quite a shock when he tried to re-tax it with the DVLA and was told it had been "sold" to the owner of a black BMW.

And, to add injury to insult, he has now received a fine for not paying car tax on RK52 0HR, the registration the Subaru had before he changed it.

Ian, 40, of Langholme Close, Leyland, said: "I cannot believe that after five months we are still in a position where someone is driving around in a completely different car with my plates on it.

"As if that was not enough, now I am told that if I do not pay the fine on a car registration I do not even own, I could end up having to pay a fine of a minimum of £1,000 and a criminal prosecution.

"We have been twice to the DVLA in Preston and spoken to its head office in Swansea twice and yet there is still a car driving around with my plate on.

"What would happen if a police camera picks up my car and realises it is not a black BMW?

"I could be in very serious trouble."

The delivery driver is now hoping that the DVLA will reinstate his plate and get it back off the mystery BMW owner.

A DVLA spokesman said it could not comment on Mr Hardman's individual case

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