PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSON

A vehicle abandoned at Smaills Beach for more than a month has been removed by the Otago Regional Council.

Acting chief executive Gavin Palmer said the council had received a complaint from a member of the public, and decided to remove the vehicle on Tuesday after it became clear the owner was not going to claim it in the near future.

Contact had been made with the owner, and the vehicle was being stored by a towing company, he said.

The council was still deciding whether to claim costs back from the owner.