Chipping Barnet MP Theresa Villiers has lent her backing to a campaign to crack down on anti-social car repair garages.

Ms Villiers has asked the council to consider taking planning enforcement action against TL Motors in Cromwell Road and Hampden Motor Services in Hampden Road after Coppetts residents complained about the garages’ behaviour.

The MP for Chipping Barnet attended a public meeting on June 6, where people living on neighbouring streets told her about their problems.

They said cars were regularly left in neighbouring roads for weeks, obstructing traffic, while repairs took place in the street and vehicles were dropped off at anti-social hours.

On June 16, Ms Villiers met a group of concerned residents to walk round the roads affected and see the problems for herself.

She said: “Feelings are running high about the activities of these garages because they are making life a misery for local people.

“This anti-social behaviour needs to stop. I thank all the agencies for responding so quickly when I contacted them about and the concerns of my constituents.

“I’ve seen for myself the problems occurring in Hampden Road and neighbouring streets. It is vital that the landlord of these garages takes this situation seriously and ensures his tenants start behaving a much more responsible way.”

The police will also undertake speed gun operations, and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency have visited the area to look for untaxed vehicles following a request from Ms Villiers.

She added: “It is important that the police and the council have now been made fully aware of the problems and I will be working with people to try to tackle this problem.”

Senior staff at TL Motors denied the accusations of anti-social behaviour and said their business had been unfairly targeted.

Lenny Antonio, director at TL motors, said: “We work within our premises, not on the street

“Our garages hold 15 cars. If we get cars in for the day, most of them are in the building. Every vehicle is taxed.

“We have 15 members of staff. What do they want us to do – make everyone redundant?”

Manager Salah Ahmet added: “We are a garage, and recovery work takes place 24 hours every day – there is nothing we can do about it.

“They don’t like us being there because we are a busy workshop and they just want to shut us down. We are abiding by laws and council restrictions.”

Hampden Motor Services was approached for comment.