Smile ... you've been fined

Motorists could soon get colour photographs of their parking offence --together with the fine.

Traffic wardens are testing hand-held computers that capture digital images of cars at the same time as printing tickets.

The pictures will be posted on a special website - providing evidence of drivers caught on double yellow lines or parked without valid pay-and-display tickets.

They are expected to dramatically boost the amount of revenue received by London councils, which last year amassed about ?222 million in parking fines. The machines are being tested by Kingston and Hackney councils and could spread London-wide if they prove a success.

Details of the experimental cameras emerged as it was revealed that a record ?1.5 million parking fines were dished out to couriers and dispatch riders in London last year.