PARKING bays in more than 1,000 streets will be reviewed by Bolton Council over the next six months.

But the council's executive committee has been told that the parking regime was not illegal.

A report to councillors yesterday conceded that most bay markings did not comply with the Traffic Sign Regulations from the Department for Transport, highlighting problems including the bay lengths and dimensions of white line markings.

But the council said it had been reviewing parking, waiting and loading restrictions for some time although it had been "reprioritised" following complaints by parking campaigner Barry Moss.

The report said the council's legal advice was that the bays were not necessarily illegal if incorrectly marked. The bays around Le Mans Crescent have already been remarked.

It also stated that "in a very limited number of circumstances the council might be required to repay parking penalties" but it would be down to the motorist to show that the fine was not legally enforceable.

The report said officers believed people were not being misled but said the council had still been advised to alter the markings. The council has begun reviewing the borough's 100 busiest streets.

Malcolm Cox, Director of Environmental Services, said it has now looked at 67 roads and made changes to 50.

A council statement revealed that Mr Moss's campaign has involved 85 emails, eight daily phone calls to officers and more than 50 Freedom of Information requests. "This has taken up countless hours of officer time," it said.

Executive member for the environment, Cllr Nick Peel, told the committee, which approved the review: "I have every confidence the council has responded entirely appropriately and we have done quite well in terms of speed. We have turned the corner and we are now only getting it all correct."