A report by Fareham Borough Council on its first year in charge of parking shows its 12-strong team of wardens have issued a staggering 9,754 tickets between April 2007 and the end of March this year.

The council team gave out 4,378 fines for off-street parking offences and 5,376 for on-street offences.

The police issued just 1,206 tickets for on-street offences over the same period the year before.

And the huge number of tickets handed out means the council made £35,000 more than expected, but despite that the enforcement team is still running at a loss.

Councillor Arthur Mandry, in charge of public protection, said: 'The police only had two parking wardens for the whole of the borough, so you have to ask if this is proportional.

'You also have to remember the police were only responsible for on-street parking.'

Cllr Mandry added: 'The number of people using our car parks has increased in the past year and quite surprisingly the people who use them are taking it upon themselves to commit offences. It never ceases to amaze me that people do this.'

And he rebutted claims that the money would go into the council's coffers.

'Any surplus raised by on-street parking can only be used for highway improvements. It can't just go into the pot – but there's no surplus anyway,' he said. 'It is operating at a loss, but that is what we had anticipated.'

'There is a sound reason for all these traffic orders – they're not there for fun.

'It's totally in the hands of the drivers and the road users – if they didn't break the laws they wouldn't get fined.'

Hugh Bladon of the Association of British Drivers said: 'The trouble with this is that councils are desperate for money and the motorists are an easy target.'

Parking fines were charged at £60 each, to be halved if paid within 14 days. Since the start of this financial year they operate on a two-tier system – lesser offences are charged at £50, more serious offences are charged at £70.

Digital photos are taken of every vehicle showing the penalty charge notice fixed to it to try and cut down on contested fines.