TRAFFIC wardens have issued more than 2,500 parking fines across Allerdale in just five months.

A new structure launched last year saw a new parking enforcement team take over the running of Allerdale and Copeland.

The new system, run by Cumbria County Council, aims to tackle parking issues raised by residents, businesses and visitors.

And traffic wardens have also been targeting schools and those who misuse disabled badges.

And figures have been revealed to show results from the fist six months of the new team, which consists of six full-time wardens and a parking team leader, being in place.

Between April and September, 2,582 penalty notices were handed out. The busiest month was July, when 656 were issued and the quietest was April when the new squad took to the streets and handed out 215 fines.

The county council's local committee for Allerdale will meet on Wednesday to discuss the new system.

Dominic Donnini, the county council's corporate director for economy and highways services, said: "The team regularly receives reports regarding inconsiderate parking outside schools which creates potential safety issues for children and other road users."

The council's civil enforcement officers have visited a number of areas in the borough to carry out enforcement and educational patrols.

"The team aims to carry out regular visits to schools across the area, both proactively and reactively and the initiative will be repeated throughout the academic year at both the start and finish of the school day," said Mr Donnini.

He added: "The team continues to issue penalty charge notices relating to the misuse of Blue Badges and report instances of abuse of the process to the Blue Badge team. The parking team leader has been tasked with organising a number of multi-agency initiatives across the locality to deal with Blue Badge abuse."