SCHOOL run drivers have been stung by one council - after a camera car caught 438 motorists in a month.

Hartlepool Borough Council launched a camera car last month to snare drivers who park their cars illegally, including mothers and fathers who do so while dropping their children off at school.

The 40,000 vehicle has 'Road Safety and Enforcement' emblazoned on the paintwork and is fitted with a camera on the roof and a computer system loaded with details of all parking enforcement areas across the town.

The car captures parents who park on yellow or zig-zig lines.

It also catches motorists who park illegally at bus stops, but Hartlepool Council said the vehicle has predominantly been operating outside schools.

The hi-tech car automatically takes photographs of offenders and a £70 fine is posted out to the driver after using automatic number plate recognition.

If paid within 14 days, the fine is reduced to £35.

While the council has stressed the initiative is set up to improve road safety rather than to make cash, a total of 438 tickets issued by the end of last week could potentially net the local authority 30,660 if all of the full charge fixed penalty notices go through without appeal.

Not counting the recent school holidays, more than 30 drivers have been snapped a day by the car.

Phil Hepburn, Hartlepool Borough Council's Parking Services Manager, said: "We want to make it clear that we are not prepared to put up with the selfish actions of drivers who put lives at risk by ignoring parking restrictions and parking their vehicles as close to their destinations as possible.

"We have previously used a range of tactics - including education, publicity campaigns and manual enforcement - to try to change drivers' attitudes but many still choose to flout parking restrictions, putting children and other pedestrians at risk.

"This work will continue, but the camera car enables us to carry out more efficient and effective enforcement of parking restrictions outside of schools, and also means that schools will be visited more frequently than can currently be achieved by Civil Enforcement Officers alone."

Coun Pamela Hargreaves, the Council's Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Development, said: ""I have been approached by a number of headteachers concerned about the level of inconsiderate and illegal parking outside schools, despite previous educational and promotional awareness campaigns.

"The problem of dangerous and inconsiderate parking, particularly outside schools, is a matter of serious concern and something that we are determined to tackle.

"We believe the car will help us to improve safety, but it is also important to stress that motorists have nothing to fear if they abide by traffic regulations and park legally."

The council said schools had been asked to distribute explanatory letters to parents via their pupils about the camera car and had held a publicity drive to make motorists aware.

Parking officers have reported a considerable drop in illegal parking when looking at week-to-week figures since launching the vehicle in May.

They will continue to use the camera car at peak times near schools before extending the coverage town-wide to target other drivers across Hartlepool.