COCKLER'S vehicles which jammed a slipway used by Morecambe lifeboat have had penalty tickets slapped on them.

Parking attendants dished out £30 penalty fines to a string of cars, vans and trailers which had been left outside the yacht club base on the promenade.

Some were left in disabled parking spaces and several others were abandoned across the lifeboat slipway - which would have made it virtually impossible to get the lifeboat in and out in an emergency.

A spokesman for Lancaster City Council, says: "The incident of cocklers parking illegally on the yacht club area of the promenade on Monday happened sud-denly and on that occasion none of the cocklers had been given dispensation to park there or cross the promenade and foreshore which are owned by the council.

"They had already left their vehicles when a council officer arrived at the scene."

The council operates a permit scheme to allow vehicles to cross the promenade - at a price.

"Enforcement action is being taken to make sure that cocklers accessing the Bay from the promenade comply with our permit system and parking requirements.

"The proceeds of the action will be used to make good any damage caused and carry out an enhanced regulatory regime," she adds.