MOTORISTS across Lancashire should be given a 'five-minute grace' period when their parking tickets expire, according to the scheme's administrators.

Council leaders have hailed the approach as "common sense" following dozens of complaints regarding over-eager parking attendants, working for Lancashire County Council's Parkwise initiative.

Officials from NCP, which runs the scheme on behalf of county hall and Lancashire's district councils, insist that no tickets should be issued immediately after allotted times run out on parking tickets.

And Parkwise bosses have confirmed that the 'five minute grace' period for off or on street parking areas had been in place since the scheme was launched in 2004.

The revelation comes as new road traffic laws, to be introduced nationally next summer, will give a 15-minute grace period for drivers.

Officials from NCP, the national parking company which administers Parkwise for Lancashire County Council, insist that, contrary to popular belief, motorists will not receive parking tickets for being just 30 seconds over their allotted time.

Tim Cowen, NCP Services spokesman, said proper time had to be given to conducting the necessary observations, and gaining evidence of the infringement, before a ticket was issued.

But he did point out that the new parking legislation, to come into force next summer, would prevent motorists driving away while a ticket is being issued.

Mr Cowen said: "Assuming we have the correct evidence relating to the parking offence, then we will be able to issue the ticket to the motorist later."

A Parkwise spokesman said that, for on and off-street parking infringements, a five-minute observation period came into force, with the ticket then liable to be issued on six minutes.