But that does not mean motorists will get away with parking illegally.

The duty of dispensing tickets has been shifted from police traffic wardens to council parking attendants.

The scheme began on Tuesday in Colchester and Chelmsford and has also been rolled out in Brentwood and Epping in Essex.

Offenders still face court if they do not pay fines, but the charge would be a civil rather than a criminal offence.

Councils have already taken over ticketing duties in Norwich in Norfolk and at Peterborough in Cambridgeshire.