Drivers in Wolverhampton could soon be spied on by a network of CCTV cameras in a crackdown on illegal parking.

Wolverhampton City Council has confirmed it is considering using camera footage to catch people breaking the law before posting them £60 fines.

City highways officer Bob Barrett revealed that neighbouring authorities are looking at using the technology too.

The Wolverhampton scheme could be running within a year in “hotspot” areas. The news comes on the same day as a legal challenge is being launched at the High Courtm over the legality of parking tickets nationwide.

A new report by Mr Barrett has been published revealing the Wolverhampton authority handed out more than 21,000 parking tickets last year and earned £577,823.

Critics have slammed the idea as “entrapment”, but bosses believe it will help the authority rake in more cash.

The Government now allows local authorities to use CCTV to issue parking fines but councils have been reluctant to use it so far because of bad publicity.

Mark Wallace of pressure group The Taxpayers’ Alliance said: “It looks increasingly like the council is using parking fines as a money-earner than simply for enforcement.

“Lots of people will rightly feel that CCTV cameras would be entrapment.”

The report going to the city council’s cabinet resources panel on Tuesday says the “new initiative” of using CCTV footage could be introduced in Wolverhampton within the next year.

Mr Barrett said: “It is being considered right across the conurbation, not just Wolverhampton.”

Councillor Paddy Bradley, cabinet member for regeneration, said: “We cannot have a free-for-all when it comes to parking – there has to be a deterrent of some kind.”