AN abandoned van which was left dumped outside a row of shops in Hartford has finally been moved on.

Shoppers and workers have seen a red Vauxhall Combo dumped by the side of Chester Road for most of the pandemic.

PCSO Nichola Devey chased the issue up having received complaints about it for months, before the van was finally removed on Thursday.

She said: "I have been following up on complaints from local residents and businesses reporting an abandoned vehicle causing a nuisance.

"After numerous enquires it has been recovered for clearly being abandoned for the last seven months."

The van was eventually recovered, having been found to have no valid insurance or MOT, after months of causing a nuisance for the row of shops it was parked outside.

"It was just left there for ages," Jason Edwards, of Littlers Butchers, told the Guardian.

"I've only worked here for six months, so the van has been here even longer than I have.

"It was in the way for customers and staff, it affected our van getting in and out for delivery, and I think it was probably more of a nuisance for the Co-op. We're glad it has gone."

A Cheshire Police spokesman said: "Officers received reports from concerned that a van had been left abandoned for several months on Chester Road, Hartford.

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"Police attended and spoke with nearby residents and businesses.

"It was found that the vehicle, a red Vauxhall Combo van, had been left for around seven months and did not have valid insurance or MOT.

"The van was then subsequently removed and taken to a nearby garage. The owner of the vehicle has been informed."