Police have warned no mercy will be shown towards motorists parking illegally in Bingley.

Inspector David Drucquer, based at the town's police station, issued an uncompromising message to drivers who leave cars on double yellow lines or pavements.

"I have told my officers that they must uphold parking restrictions very strictly," he said.

"There are no 'ifs' and 'buts'. They will always get a ticket. There are no excuses whatsoever and if they don't like it they have to write in about it or plead not guilty."

Insp Drucquer declared war on motorists who clogged up town centre streets or caused dangerous obstructions by parking illegally but thought they could get away with it.

He said stopping briefly on yellow lines to get money from a bank's cash machine was no excuse. His officers were under instructions to issue a ticket whenever they saw a car parked illegally.

"Parking restrictions in many places in Bingley require to be upheld very strictly, otherwise it will cause very severe problems," said Insp Drucquer.

He said the only exceptions would be for disabled drivers. But even then disabled stickers did not give motorists carte blanche to park anywhere. If they were causing an obstruction they could be asked to move and if they refused to do so, they could be issued with a parking ticket.

Insp Drucquer said police had carried out a blitz on illegal parking in parts of Bingley and surrounding villages. Tickets had been issued to drivers parked on the pavement near Eldwick First School.

He said there had been complaints about their action but he was adamant that it had been the correct thing to do as cars had been causing an obstruction.

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