FIXED penalty charges of £60 will be imposed on drivers illegally parking on yellow lines throughout the Harrogate district.

Currently, North Yorkshire Police impose £30 fixed penalty notices.

But from July 15, the police will hand over enforcement to Harrogate Borough Council.

If drivers pay within 14 days, the fine will be cut by 50 per cent, in line with the current £30 police penalty.

The borough council already enforces on-street pay and display and residents' parking zones in Harrogate and Knaresborough.

But the enforcement of yellow line parking will extend throughout the district, covering the Harrogate, Knaresborough, Boroughbridge, Ripon and Pateley Bridge areas.

Leaflets explaining the change are being delivered to homes.

The council has appointed extra parking attendants to deal with enforcement, while mobile patrols will cover rural areas. Illegal parking will also be targeted during evenings and weekends.

It was in 1991 that the Government introduced legislation to decriminalise parking offences, allowing councils to take over.

North Yorkshire Police will continue taking responsibility for offences such as parking on pedestrian crossing approaches and all "moving" traffic offences.

Police say the move will free up resources for other priorities.

The borough council, which is operating the scheme for North Yorkshire County Council, is confident it will be self-financing.

"Any surplus money will be used for parking and transport improvements," said a council spokesman.