Traffic wardens issued more than 12,000 parking tickets in Ashford borough last year – raking in almost £300,000 in fines.

New figures released to KentOnline's sister title the Kentish Express following a Freedom of Information request show how thousands of motorists were caught out between January and December.

Hall Avenue on the Orbital Park in Sevington was the borough’s most ticketed road – with 625 notices dished out by Ashford Borough Council (ABC) in just 12 months.

The dead-end stretch, which is close to the drive-thru McDonald’s and leads to the French Connection restaurant, is a popular parking spot with HGV drivers.

Simon Mace, who works at Specialised Roofline Supplies in Hall Avenue, says he is not surprised the road comes top of the list.

“The parking is really bad and it is 100% down to the lorry drivers,” he said.

“They can’t park in the Ashford truckstop, so they come here and it is still happening even with the clamping the council has started.

“The lorry drivers are a pain, but it is not their fault – the companies they work for should pay for them to park.”

Rob Campbell, who works at Hire Station which recently moved to Hall Avenue, says the clamping trial has not put HGV drivers off.

Council bosses are running an 18-month scheme which stops drivers from parking overnight on industrial estates in the town and the A20.

Mr Campbell said: “Because they have nowhere else to go, the majority of grief in the road is from the lorry drivers.

“There are no facilities here and the signs are up about clamping, but they still come.

“They are aware of the clamping, but some nights the council doesn’t do it and there are loads of lorries around.”

In total, 12,667 tickets were handed out by ABC between January and December 2017, making £287,522 in revenue.