A total of 62 fines were issued to lorry drivers in just over a week for parking on the hard shoulder and slip roads.

The truckers were given fixed penalty notices and moved on in the post-Christmas countywide police crackdown.

It follows reports that queues of HGV drivers were stopping up overnight for their breaks on the A2 at Cobham.

Between December 30 and January 7, the notices were issued at that spot and also on the M20 at Capel-le-Ferne, Folkestone.

In total 47 HGVs were moved on from Cobham on the A2 and 33 of those were issued with fines.

One vehicle failed to pay the fixed penalty notice and was immobilised in a safe location until a release payment was received.

Two fines were also given to HGVs illegally parked further down the A2 over the course of the week.

"Parking on the hard shoulder and slip roads for a rest is simply not acceptable – it is unsafe and unlawful... We are operating a zero-tolerance approach." - Supt Ian Hall

At Ebbsfleet, two HGVs also failed to pay their fines and were immobilised at a safe location until they paid.

It was an organised sweep of the county’s road network by officers from Kent’s Roads Policing Unit and Highways England.

Supt Ian Hall said: “Parking on the hard shoulder and slip roads for a rest is simply not acceptable – it is unsafe and unlawful and [we] will deal with those who flout the law accordingly.

“We are operating a zero-tolerance approach. The hard shoulders are there for those vehicles that break down and are in need of assistance, and for the use of the emergency services.”

Lorry drivers have hit back saying it is a result of a lack of parking facilities for trucks.

Mark Lindridge, from Gravesend, said people should consider the services truckers are providing to the economy – especially at this time of year – and have more sympathy for truckers unable to find spaces in designated parking areas. “The trouble is that if you stop the parking at the services and by Nell’s Cafe, you could start pushing the lorries into town and that could cause even worse problems for everyone,” he added.