TRAFFIC wardens working for the district council issued more than 1,000 parking tickets and fines last year, bringing more than �46,000 into council coffers.

The figures, released under the Freedom of Information Act, show that a total of 1075 tickets - almost three every day - were issued in 2011/12, bringing in a total of �46,708.33, compared with 930 tickets and �42.025 the previous year.

In 2009/10, 1015 tickets were issued but just �32.103.64 was collected, some 31 per cent less than in 2011/12 despite only 60 fewer tickets being issued.

In its latest accounts, East Cambridgeshire District Council says it expects to spend a total of �193,185 on car parking in the current financial year.

The authority is currently consulting on plans to introduce charges to park in Ely’s car parks, with a percentage of the excess funds generated over and above the �193,185 to be ploughed back into transport initiatives.