ILLEGALLY-parked Bolton motorists were in for a rude awakening today as a council crackdown kicked in.

The authority took over responsibility for patrolling parking from the police at the beginning of the month and have pledged a tougher approach than the limited number of police traffic wardens could manage.

Council parking enforcement officers have slapped hundreds of warning notices on the windows of offending vehicles.

From today, though, the council have insisted there will be no mercy for inconsiderate motorists.

Council highways chief Adrian Golland said: "We have always intended that we would go softly-softly for the first couple of weeks or so and make sure that people who hadn't heard about what was happening weren't going to be caught unawares.

"I think what we will see now is the beginning of a more rigorous enforcement.

"We will certainly be much more rigorous than the police traffic wardens, who did a good job with limited resources, were but we will be consistent and fair to everybody and it's for the benefit of those who abide by the regulations."

Fines will be administered by 16 administrative staff at the council's new £250,000 parking shop in Chorley Street, on the fringes of the town centre.

There will be a basic £40 penalty, falling to £20 if it is paid within 14 days and rising to £60 if it is not paid within 28.

Non-payers will be pursued through the civil courts rather than the criminal system as was previously the case.

Money raised will be dedicated to parking and traffic improvements, although council officers predict it will be up to 18 months before enough cash will be raised to cover the new system's start-up costs.