Patrols begin to stop people parking illegally outside schools across the Harborough district

A second camera enforcement car is being drafted in to patrol schools all over the district in a bid to deter culprits.

The Leicestershire County Council move comes as it emerged that £70 fines have been handed out to 24 offenders in the area in the last six months alone.

Cllr Blake Pain, the council’s cabinet member for environment and transport, said: “We know that inconsiderate and dangerous parking outside schools can be a real problem.

“We believe that the use of the camera car has been a major deterrent and a big boost to road safety.”

He added: “We want to reiterate though that this is not about catching and fining motorists.

“We want people to stop parking inconsiderately near schools as it endangers the lives of pedestrians and causes a great deal of concern for schools and parents.”

Throughout Leicestershire some 127 penalties were issued from September 1, 2018 to March 31, 2019.

And 178 people were fined from April 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019.

Some 155 schools across the county now have enforceable mandatory school keep-clear markings.