FOOTBALL fans parking outside of designated car parks around Blackburn Rovers ground on match days could find themselves being booked.

A new clampdown has been launched by council and police in a bid to ease parking difficulties for local residents.

The new permit scheme has been introduced by Blackburn with Darwen Council and will be used for the first time during Rovers' match against Birmingham City in numerous streets around their Ewood Park ground on Boxing Day.

Lancashire Police will enforce the scheme as part of the bid to help residents who have found themselves forced to park their cars far from their homes on match days.

Residents have been given special parking permits to display in their cars which allow them to park near their homes on match days.

The permit scheme will only operate on match days and signs will be put up on the streets affected warning drivers the area is reserved for permit holder only.