A PROBE into Thurrock Council's accounts has revealed a huge jump in receipt of parking fines.

The authority has nearly doubled its takings from parking fines in the past five

Figures obtained by the BBC showed the amount raised in parking fines rose from £466,249 to £872,949 in the past five years.

The council said any surplus from the income was spent on highways.

The figures, supplied under the Freedom of Information Act, revealed 18,723 fines were issued in 2018-19. Last year, the council handed out 29,344 penalties.

The council has also doubled the size of its parking enforcement team from 10 staff members in 2021, to 20 currently and has also increased the number of parking permit zones from nine to 14.