LANCASHIRE'S new army of traffic wardens have been told to target parents dropping their children off at school.

The 90 county council-employed wardens, who have taken over enforcement of traffic regulations from the police, began issuing fines this week.

Motorists have already reacted with outrage to the revelation that the wardens will issue 150,000 tickets in their first year -- they fined a milkman on his deliveries in Burnley on the new scheme's first day.

Coun Jean Yates, cabinet member for transport and highways at Lancashire County Council, said one of the priorities had been identified as cars parking outside schools. She added: "There probably isn't a more clear example of why we have parking regulations.

"Some parents live in sight of a school but still insist on dropping their children off right in front of school, in a no parking area, in their 4x4.

"We've tried to do things more softly, but it hasn't worked." But parents today said that, while there were some inconsiderate drivers outside schools, the move was just designed to make money for the county council.

Arthur Street, 74, of Arncliffe Avenue, Accrington, who often picks his great-granddaughter up from school at Peel Park County Primary, Alice Street, said: "It is a bit nit picking.

"People are not causing any problems for long we are just trying to pick our little ones up from school. I don't think they should target schools."

Stephanie Cambell, 26, of Game Street, Great Harwood, said: "I think it is just another money-making thing, it always is with them. It is not a good idea at all.

"We are only mums doing the school run and I live too far away to walk."

Michelle Lyne, 36, of Whalley Road, Clayton-le-Moors, agreed: "I wouldn't be impressed if I got a ticket it's only for a few minutes. What is their problem?"

But Guy Bullough, 36, of, Fielding Lane, Great Harwood said: "It is a tricky one because people park stupidly on double yellow lines. But they are there for a reason for all our childrens' safety. Schools are vulnerable places and people should have some consideration, so if traffic wardens give people tickets here, they probably deserved it."

The new service, managed by Lancashire County Council using staff from car parking firm NCP, is operational in five of East Lancashire's six boroughs.

Blackburn with Darwen launches its own scheme, with 20 wardens, on October 1.

A spokesman for Blackburn with Darwen Council said they had a number of initiatives to tackle dangerous parking outside schools, but did not say whether new traffic wardens would target parents on the school run as well.