A 90-STRONG team of council-employed traffic wardens hit the streets of the county today.

Residents' parking zones, limited-waiting parking bays and yellow line areas will all be enforced by the new team.

Lancashire County Council, which is working with 12 district councils, including Hyndburn, Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale, took over on-street parking enforcement from the police today and has employed car parks firm NCP to recruit staff.

As a result, the number of parking tickets issued is expected to soar. Police have already given parking enforcement staff new roles and councils have been told by the Government the new service must be self-funding.

Fines will be £60, reduced to £30 if paid within two weeks.The wardens will also patrol council-run car parks and fines for over-staying in those will rise from £30 maximum to £60 maximum.

Each borough council will select its priority areas for enforcement.

One controversial area is expected to be the centre of Clitheroe, which has restricted-waiting parking throughout most of the town centre.

Ribble Valley Council is employing its own wardens and enforcement means many residents can not park in front of their homes.

Kevin Almond, network policies manager at Lancashire County Council, said: "It isn't as if a wave of new regulations has come into effect, it's just you are probably more likely to be caught if you break them.

"We will review any problems which come up."

Blackburn with Darwen Council's traffic warden scheme begins next month.