The Highways Agency has signed a three year deal - with the opportunity to extend up to a further two years - with FMG Support to run its new national vehicle recovery service. This will enable Highways Agency Traffic Officers to exercise new powers to order the quick and safe removal of abandoned, broken down and accident-damaged vehicles outside of police interest, from the motorway network.

Derek Turner, the Highways Agency's Director of Network Operations, said: "The appointment of FMG Support is a key milestone for the transfer of this function from our police partners.

FMG Support has a longstanding background in vehicle recovery. It will provide a one-stop contact for Highways Agency Traffic Officers to remove vehicles posing a danger or obstruction to other motorway users, following an abandonment, break down or accident.

The NVRM will manage a network of local vehicle recovery operator contracts and will ensure that a suitable vehicle recovery operator attends to remove vehicles.

Working alongside FMG Support's NVRM, the first regional group of Traffic Officers is likely to start using the new service in the East of England early in the New Year.

FMG Support is based in Huddersfield and has been in existence since 1986.