THOUSANDS of illegally parked cars in Southampton will be clamped or towed away from next year under a controversial new policy.

Tory council chiefs last night agreed to give a private firm powers to carry out a crackdown on illegal parking in the city in a bid to improve traffic flows, reduce safety hazards, and boost the recovery of penalty charges.

It is estimated about 3,450 cars causing a danger or obstruction "to traffic or pedestrian flows" and those illegally parked and found to have three unpaid tickets will be towed away each year.

Councillor Gavin Dick, Cabinet member for transport, said: "This is good news and should speed up traffic flows around the city and reduce dangers on the road and provide a proper deterrent to those trying to avoid outstanding parking fines."

He said clamping would rarely be used and insisted the move was not a revenue raising exercise.

It wasn't expected to make a profit, he said.

For the full story see today's Daily Echo