The income councils raked in from parking trebled to almost £1bn in the last financial year.

AA analysis of new Government figures revealed English local authorities generated £962m from parking charges in 2022-23 - up from £318m the previous year.

Last year's income from both on-street and car park charges was more than the £936m brought in before the coronavirus pandemic in 2018-19.

A Local Government Association spokesperson said: ‘Income raised through parking charges is spent on running parking services.

‘Any surplus is spent on essential transport projects, including fixing the £14bn road repairs backlog, reducing congestion, tackling poor air quality and supporting local bus services.'