POLICE have put an investigation into claims parking bays across Bolton are illegal on hold.

Leading officers agreed to look into the allegations after they were contacted by campaigner Barry Moss.

Mr Moss, aged 61, of Daisy Hill, says he has yet to find an on-street bay in Bolton where the white markings comply with regulations.

He claims some bays are the wrong length, while in others individual parking spaces have not been marked out and the gap between split white lines alongside the bays is the wrong size.

Mr Moss says the council is guilty of misfeasance - wilful misconduct by a public officer.

But police have put their investigation on hold while the council seeks legal advice.

Supt Andy Durkin said: "The council do not accept at face value what Mr Moss is saying and are seeking legal advice.

"Until such time that advice is clear I am not going to add a third dimension to the situation."

Mr Moss said he accepted Supt Durkin's decision.

But added that the council must now suspend enforcement across all parking spaces, make them legal and then repay more than £6 million in fines.

The council this week suspended enforcement on two parking bays with space for 18 cars in Le Mans Crescent and Victoria Square North.

It admitted they had been repainted to the wrong length.