IRRESPONSIBLE motorists were fined a total of £124,000 for parking illegally in Colchester High Street in the space of just 12 months, it has been revealed.

The concerning numbers show on average about eight people are being fined every day in the High Street.

This is despite cars being banned for the majority of daylight hours and parking restrictions in bays along the length of the road.

A Freedom of Information request from the Local Democracy Reporting Service reveals Colchester had the second highest number of parking charge notices in Essex, second only to Brentwood.

The newly crowned city saw motorists slapped with 2,987 fines between July 1 of last year and June 30, this year.

The data provided by the North Essex Parking Partnership showed the eye-watering total value of the accumulated charges was £124,157.96, the highest financial cost in the county.

The high numbers are a particular cause for concern for residents as general traffic is banned from using the High Street between 7am and 7pm, with Essex County Council planning to make this permanent.

Castle ward councillor Mark Goacher said poor parking is a widespread problem across the city.

"Parking in the wrong place here is a massive problem, whether that's pavement parking or just cars being left in a generally inconsiderate place," he said.

"The rules are the rules and, obviously, if people flout them they are going to be fined.

"[To tackle this] there could be even more fines to act as a deterrent as I'm sure many people who are doing what they want are surely aware they are breaking the rules."

Parking bosses at NEPP, a multi-council-run organisation, aid they aim to promote "safe, considerate and legal parking".

A spokesman said: "PCNs are only issued to motorists where parking contraventions are witnessed, and we advise and encourage motorists to check for any restrictions before parking their vehicle.

"NEPP is a founding member of the Positive Parking Agenda and is committed to delivering a service which promotes and supports safe, considerate and legal parking across North Essex."