The roads where drivers are hit with the most parking tickets have been revealed, with council leaders warning Norfolk motorists could soon face further restrictions.

Just over 23,000 penalty charge notices have been slapped on drivers' windscreens by council traffic wardens over the past six months - and politicians have suggested even more could be issued in the future.

New figures have revealed Colegate in Norwich, South Quay in King's Lynn and King Street in Great Yarmouth are among the 10 streets where motorists are most likely to be hit with fines.

Penalty charge notices are issued by civil enforcement officers to drivers who ignore restrictions, such as by parking on yellow lines, not buying pay and display tickets, staying too long in time-limited spaces or parking in a permit space without a permit.

The fines are £50 or £70, depending on seriousness, with the amount halved if paid quickly.

Colegate in Norwich was where the most parking penalty charge notices were issued in the past six monthsColegate in Norwich was where the most parking penalty charge notices were issued in the past six months (Image: Sonya Duncan)

In Norwich's historic Colegate 488 drivers were caught, with South Quay in King's Lynn and King Street in King's Lynn in second and third place with 357 and 332.

King Street in Great YarmouthKing Street in Great Yarmouth (Image: Simon Finlay)

King Street in Great Yarmouth was fourth with 297 and Norwich's Rouen Road was fifth with 282.

Rouen Road in NorwichRouen Road in Norwich (Image: Sonya Duncan)

St Giles Street in Norwich was sixth with 270 fines, Deneside in Great Yarmouth seventh with 231.

Yarmouth's Princes Road was in eighth spot with 230, with Norwich Princes Street (228) and Orford Street (203) ninth and tenth.

South Quay in King's LynnSouth Quay in King's Lynn (Image: Matthew Usher)

The North Norfolk streets where drivers were most likely to fall foul were Church Road in Hoveton (160) and Market Street in North Walsham (128).

In Broadland the hotspot was Aylsham Market Place, where 77 penalties were issued, while in Breckland it was Swaffham Market Place, with 105.

Colney Lane in Cringleford was at the top of the South Norfolk table, with 167 notices issued.

The Norfolk Parking Partnership - a collaboration of county, city, district and borough councils - manages and administers parking enforcement.

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Martin Chisholm, business manager at West Norfolk Council, which is responsible for the back office running of the partnership, said: "As the value for money has changed, we are seeing far more people paying penalty charge notices at discounted rates, because they see it as worth the risk.

"You park in a legal parking place and outstay your welcome, then it is £25, when many off-street car parks can cost you more than that.

"So people think its worth risking that and are paying us less money, but more easily.

"We are seeing less challenges, but the people who do pay, pay quickly, because they see it as a way of parking where they conveniently want to."

The money generated by enforcement is supposed to cover the costs of the scheme - but is not doing so, with a forecast £23,595 deficit.

It comes amid a political row, with North Norfolk District Council refusing to pay a £5,000 contribution towards enforcement costs, saying that, because it has no vote on the partnership committee, it amounts to "taxation without representation"

And the partnership faces a £190,000 extra cost it had not anticipated when Norwich City Council's back office functions for managing enforcement in the city transferred to West Norfolk Council last autumn.

To increase revenue, the partnership is looking at putting in more restrictions.

Wells-next-the-SeaWells-next-the-Sea (Image: Mike Page)

Officers revealed there have been "negotiations" with Wells Town Council over new parking controls there, including pay and display on-street parking and resident permit parking schemes.

Graham Plant, Norfolk County Council cabinet member for highways, transport and infrastructure and chairman of the partnership, said it was "unacceptable" for councils which did pay into the scheme to be "subsidising" activity in north Norfolk.

He urged officers to look into introducing new restrictions in other parts of north Norfolk to "alleviate the issues with the finances".

Graham Plant, Norfolk County Council cabinet member for highways, transport and infrastructureGraham Plant, Norfolk County Council cabinet member for highways, transport and infrastructure (Image: Norfolk County Council)

He also said he wanted the government to increase charges.

He said: "We need to look at our entire income scheme because the costs of doing it have risen. Even to stand still, we have to put income and revenues up.

"Yes, it would be unpopular, but nobody likes getting fined, so it would always be unpopular."