A second hand car dealer has been fined for unlicensed street trading after blocking residents' parking bays in Tooting for two weeks.

Todor Vakrilov, of Elmhurst Avenue, Mitcham, parked a gold Peugeot a mile away in Mitcham Lane while attempting to sell it.

The car, which had a £1,190 price tag hanging in the window, was spotted by Wandsworth Council's operational service team while patrolling the area in a crackdown on second hand car dealers using residents' parking spaces in Mitcham Lane.

When interviewed under caution, Vakrilov admitted the offence and said he had bought the 10-year-old Peugeot 307 from a scrap yard in Lancashire for £525.

After a hearing a Lavender Hill Magistrates' Court, Vakrilov was fined £170 and ordered to pay another £120 in court costs and a victim surcharge.

Councillor Jonathan Cook, transport spokesman, said: "Professional car dealers who park vehicles in the same spot for days or weeks on end cause real inconvenience to local residents.

"They are using the public highway like it’s their own private garage forecourt.

"We are targeting these professional traders so that we can free up parking spaces for the people living in the area who really need them."

The crackdown on car dealers is part of a two pronged approach that is also targeting builders who obstruct the highway.

Residents often complain about builders who cause parking shortages by storing materials on the public highway or cause obstructions by using grab lorries to get rid of waste and rubble, instead of paying for the skips to be removed.

Highway obstruction can be reported to 020 8871 6708 or onstreetservices@wandsworth.gov.uk.