A crackdown has been launched on dangerous parking near Workington's new leisure centre.

Allerdale council has announced it is getting tough on enforcement after a spate of disabled parking spaces and emergency services access being clocked by inconsiderate drivers in the Brow Top car park.

The council provided extra parking spaces in the area when the leisure centre was built but a spokesman said many were ignoring spaces in neighbouring car parks.

The authority is now warning drivers using the car park, which is next to the leisure centre, bingo hall and town centre, that they will receive fines if they park irresponsibly.

Councillor Michael Heaslip, the council's executive member responsible for car parks, said: “There is no excuse for poor parking which means disabled drivers are unable to use the designated spaces, and there is definitely no justification for parking which blocks access for the emergency services. It could be a member of your family who needs help from a paramedic or the fire service. Why would you block their way?

“Just next door to the Brow Top car park is a lorry park which provides additional parking spaces for cars. We have already increased the lighting there so that car drivers can use it comfortably, with additional improvements to the car park surface and landscaping planned in the coming weeks.

"If that is full, there is yet another car park available at Allerdale House, which is largely empty in the evenings when the council offices are closed and the leisure centre and bingo hall are at their busiest.

“You have been warned. Our officers are patrolling in this area.”

Daytime parking charges apply in the car parks between 7am and 7pm, with an overnight charge of £1 outside those times.

Leisure centre users are entitled to non-chargeable parking if they input their registration details into the check-in machines when they arrive.