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These are 10 of more than 50 cars found illegally parked in an hour-long survey exposing how traffic laws are being flouted in Leicester city centre.

Scores of drivers are clogging up Leicester's streets by parking on double yellow lines.

City centre manager David Best said motorists are causing a string of problems by ignoring the law. Police were today urged to tackle the problem amid concerns that the rules are not being enforced.

A spot check by the Leicester Mercury over an hour yesterday found 52 cars parked on double yellow lines in just nine city centre streets.

Mr Best said the figures came as no surprise. He said: "The problem is that the police have started moving a lot of traffic wardens over to being community support officers (CSOs).

"Unfortunately, people are taking advantage of that and leaving cars where they like. It only takes one emergency vehicle unable to get through at a crucial moment for a tragedy to happen.

"I have sympathy for the police because they have limited resources, and I have sympathy for the people of Leicester who have to suffer with bad parking.

"If people park on the double yellow lines there's the risk that emergency vehicles can't get through. It can also make it impossible for buses to get through or get into their bays.

"In areas like Silver Street and Hotel Street the cars are blocking the pavement, making it difficult for people who are visually impaired, disabled or pushing a pushchair. Parking illegally is often a hazard for people trying to cross the road safely."

One driver who went back to his car during the Mercury's survey said: "I was just waiting for my wife. I won't get caught though because I've been looking out for traffic wardens. Not that you ever see any."

The responsibility of enforcing double yellow lines is set to be handed over to the city council from the police in late 2006 or early 2007.

Leicester's highways spokesman, Councillor Patrick Kitterick, said: "Leicester City Council is taking over responsibility for traffic wardens in 2006.

"Until then, we will need to speak to the police about how it is enforced in that transitional period. I have had reports that the police are not enforcing it."

West End resident Bernard Henze, 67, said: "There just aren't any traffic wardens around, and as a result people think they can park wherever they want - they know they won't get a ticket. You can report them, but nothing gets done.

"What's the point of having a law if there is no one to enforce it?"

Leicestershire Police Authority chairman David Saville today insisted parking problems were being tackled.

"We do not want to give out the message that people can just park where they want and not be punished," he said. "Our CSOs travel around all the time, and they won't hesitate to give a ticket to an illegally parked vehicle."

A Leicestershire Police spokeswoman said CSOs were targeting problem areas as a matter of priority and motorists parking illegally may face prosecution.

"If people have concerns about parking in particular areas they should continue to let us know and solutions can be developed to target the problem," she said.

There are 33 traffic wardens employed in Leicestershire.This compares with 54 employed in January 2004 and 76 in January 2003.

The spokeswoman said: "Although the numbers of traffic wardens are diminishing, we now employ 77 police community support officers, who do the same thing."

Still at least it is not farmed out to the private sector....yet!

Mr Best said the figures came as no surprise. He said: "The problem is that the police have started moving a lot of traffic wardens over to being community support officers (CSOs).

The responsibility of enforcing double yellow lines is set to be handed over to the city council from the police in late 2006 or early 2007.

Leicester's highways spokesman, Councillor Patrick Kitterick, said: "Leicester City Council is taking over responsibility for traffic wardens in 2006.

"Until then, we will need to speak to the police about how it is enforced in that transitional period. I have had reports that the police are not enforcing it."

"We do not want to give out the message that people can just park where they want and not be punished," he said. "Our CSOs travel around all the time, and they won't hesitate to give a ticket to an illegally parked vehicle."

A Leicestershire Police spokeswoman said CSOs were targeting problem areas as a matter of priority and motorists parking illegally may face prosecution.

"If people have concerns about parking in particular areas they should continue to let us know and solutions can be developed to target the problem," she said.

There are 33 traffic wardens employed in Leicestershire.This compares with 54 employed in January 2004 and 76 in January 2003.

The spokeswoman said: "Although the numbers of traffic wardens are diminishing, we now employ 77 police community support officers, who do the same thing."