FRESH calls have been made for a borough to be released from a controversial parking scheme after the deputy leader was incorrectly issued with a £60 fine.

Hyndburn councillor Brian Roberts was among 11 motorists issued tickets on Tuesday all of which have now been cancelled because they were not issued in accordance with Parkwise guidelines.

Coun Roberts, of St Oswalds ward, had parked his car in a one-hour waiting zone in Cannon Street and left his vehicle for around 35 minutes.

A Parkwise traffic warden observed his vehicle in the spot for just five minutes before issuing a ticket.

Coun Roberts said: "I returned to my car well within the time limit. Parkwise needs to get its act together with better trained employees.

"This was a scandal. This sort of action will stop people wanting to come shopping in the town centre."

It is the latest in a series of incidents which have prompted council leader Peter Britcliffe to try to withdraw Hyndburn from Parkwise, the parking enforcement partnership between Lancashire County Council and local district and borough councils.

However, Hyndburn Council joined the scheme in 2004 and is contracted to stay with the scheme for at least another two years.

Drivers have complained to the council that they had been hit by the heavy-handed tactics' of parking attendants, who have dished out fines for failing to display disabled badges correctly, or for over-staying in a bay by just a few minutes.

Coun Britcliffe has been holding weekly meetings to ensure that any parking tickets are being issued correctly.

He said: "Mistakes like this should not be being made.

"Parkwise have never been a good company to work with and the sooner we get rid of them the better."

A representative for Parkwise said: "Parkwise operates a full and fair appeals procedure and will cancel any tickets that have been incorrectly issued.

"A very small number of penalty charge notices have been issued relating to a very specific area in Accrington."