LANCASHIRE'S new army of parking attendants is being trained in self-defence amid fears they will be attacked by irate drivers.

And the 90-strong team, due to hit the streets on September 6, will be constantly tracked, using state-of-the-art satellite monitoring equipment, and carry panic alarms with them at all times.

Lancashire County Council, which is working with 12 district councils, including Hyndburn, Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale, to take over on-street parking enforcement from the police, has employed car parks firm NCP to recruit staff.

They are beginning to train them in self-defence and conflict resolution after Lancashire County Council officers spoke to other councils which have taken over parking enforcement.

Ribble Valley, which is employing its own wardens, is also sending them to NCP.

Kevin Almond, network policies manager at Lancashire County Council, said: "The staff will also have panic buttons which they can use discreetly and immediately to call for back-up.

"We are working on fostering relationships with the local police so they can be called upon when needed." Parking regulations, such as residents' only parking and on-street one hour parking bays - were previously enforced by the police's traffic wardens.

But many areas have gone unchecked after wardens were transferred to other duties following the announcement of deregulation.

The new wardens will work around the clock, and each borough council will decide how many officers it needs at any given time, enabling them to target local problems such as parking at football matches.

A spokesman for the RAC Foundation said: "I think the most important thing is that these new wardens are not seen to be over zealous."

The county council has been accused of marketing the new scheme as a money-making operation.

Borough councils protested after a private 'reputation management' firm was brought in launch the scheme, and issued advice to council officers telling them to promote the fact that the £60 fines would be used to keep council tax down.

The scheme has also led to fears the Government might reduce Lancashire councils' annual grants because they have a new stream of funding, which would put pressure on to issue more fines.