WEST Yorkshire Police has admitted that its PCSOs may have issued around 16,000 parking tickets in error over the past decade.

In that time, motorists have paid £485,000 to the courts in parking fines, and the force said it was still establishing a potential refund process for those affected.

A police spokesman said it was only after a review of PCSO powers in March that the force discovered they did not have the authority to issue fixed-penalty notices.

"We are currently assessing the scale of this issue, and what it means to motorists," said the spokesman.

"We would like to emphasise that no PCSOs knowingly acted beyond their powers and they believed, as did the force at that time, that they were acting correctly.

"Clearly, this is a very complex issue, and we are working through a process with HM Courts & Tribunals Service to establish how to resolve matters regarding affected motorists.

"This will include whether drivers issued tickets by PCSOs will be entitled to refunds for tickets issued, and, if so, how to set up a process for that to take place.

"We will publish further details in relation to this on our website, www.westyorkshire.police.uk, as soon as possible."