THIRTEEN new parking attendants hit the streets of Blackburn with Darwen today -- bringing to an end years of being able to park where you like.

And the new team of wardens, employed by Blackburn with Darwen Council, have been given the go-ahead to issue £60 penalty notices from day one, if they feel parked cars are presenting a 'real danger.'

It had been thought drivers would get a fortnight's grace after enforcement of traffic regulations passed from the police to Blackburn with Darwen Council.

But Coun Andy Kay, executive member for regeneration, said: "I don't want anyone to be under the impression that they won't get a ticket.

"Our wardens have been told to use their discretion about who to issue tickets to and who to give warning letters to in the first few weeks.

"But if a car is parked dangerously or if someone is repeatedly flouting the rules, then they can expect a ticket.

"Nothing would please us more than to not issue a single ticket because it would mean no-one was breaking the rules."

Lancashire County Council assumed control of traffic regulation enforcement last month and has brought in car park company NCP to carry out enforcement. It believes it will issue 150,000 tickets in the first year.

But Coun Kay said: "Our staff are actually employed by the council. The seven staff we already have to patrol our pay and display car parks and on-street parking in Blackburn town centre will also be involved, giving us 20 wardens in total.

"Their time will be divided between various areas, enforcing existing rules and looking at problem areas raised by the public."

Ian Richardson, from the council's traffic consultants Capita, said: "We have looked at all our orders to make sure they are still relevant, and are now in a position to look at more residents' parking zones.

"In the past, we couldn't guarantee the police would enforce them. Now we can."

Earlier this week, it was revealed 500 drivers a day were ditching their cars outside Blackburn town centre and walking to save paying for parking.

This prompted calls for residents' parking in areas such as Bank Top.