DRIVERS caught parking illegally in a Ribble Valley village are being targeted by police as officers try to tackle congestion chaos which has left residents fuming.

Whalley policeman Geoff Pennal warned he would begin issuing tickets after complaints from villagers began to soar.

Residents claim drivers are avoiding parking in the village's two short-stay pay and display car parks -- both of which are privately owned -- and instead are parking on double yellow lines and other restricted zones in King Street and Accrington Road.

Most of the allocated parking areas in King Street are taken up by workers in the village, leaving little space for ordinary shoppers.

Bus stop bays, the bus station and marked areas around the pedestrian crossing in King Street have all become obstructed by cars parked up by shoppers.

PC Pennal said: "The police still have the right to ticket cars which are parked illegally.

"And that is something I intend to start doing. Some people are going to find a trip to the shops could be a lot more expensive in future.

"Parking on double yellow lines, in bus stop bays and by the crossing all pose risks to other people and we intend to mix education with enforcement so people only park where they are supposed to."

Bus companies using King Street have complained parking in bus bays means passengers being dropped in the middle of the road, while parking on both sides of the street has caused gridlock delaying services by up to 15 minutes.

Parking arrangements in Whalley have now become a bone of contention for the village's chamber of trade and the parish council.

Traders want Vale Gardens to be turned into a long-stay car park, which would in turn allow Lancashire County Council to impose waiting restrictions along King Street and Accrington Road.

That would mean only people staying short periods of time could stop in King Street, which businesses say would mean more passing trade coming their way.

But the parish council, which owns Vale Gardens, has insisted residents would rather keep Vale Gardens, and an alternative solution to the parking problem be sought.

Eric Ronnan, chairman of the council, said: "I don't see why the county council can't put the restrictions in now."

But a spokesman for LCC said: "We can't put in restrictions until somewhere for long-stay visitors is found."