Part-worn tyres are being sold with serious safety defects, unsafe repairs and incorrect labelling, council leaders have warned.

The Local Government Association (LGA) has issued the warning after latest figures show dangerous tyres led to 17 being killed and 719 road casualties in 2017.

It is warning motorists that they are putting their lives at risk by buying dangerous second-hand tyres, with nearly half of used tyres being sold illegally in some areas.

The LGA said motorists should only buy second-hand tyres that have the required 'part-worn' marking.

Cllr Simon Blackburn, chair of the LGA’s Safer and Stronger Communities Board, said: ‘Dangerous part-worn tyres are putting motorists' lives at risk and blatant, inexcusable breaches of the law are happening with shocking prevalence in some areas.

’Cheap used tyres might be tempting to buy but if they don’t have the correct legal markings, motorists could unknowingly buy illegal tyres which could contribute to a major accident’.