More than 50 parking wardens have been attacked on duty by motorists across the Black Country in the past year – new figures have revealed.

The assaults include one warden being grabbed by the throat by an angry motorist in July last year and in another attack, a driver tried to run over an officer who had handed out a ticket in October last year.

Both attacks happened in Wolverhampton.

Information released under the Freedom of Information Act have revealed most attacks on wardens in the Black Country have taken place in Sandwell and Wolverhampton.

The total number of attacks or threats of violence reported to Sandwell Council over the past year was 20, including six which resulted in the wardens being taken to hospital and nine which involved police officers attending.

Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for neighbourhoods and housing, coun-cillor Mahboob Hussain, said: “It is extremely sad that some people have ended up attacking wardens because they have become angry at getting a parking ticket.

“It is completely pointless, because nothing can be achieved once the ticket has been issued other than appeal through the normal channels.”

In Wolverhampton there have been 18 reported attacks over the past year, nine in Walsall and 12 in Dudley.

Wolverhampton Council has released details of the attacks and threats of violence, including November last year when a driver threatened to beat a warden with a baseball bat.

Last month a warden was also punched and kicked by an angry driver. Wardens have been in place in Dudley since April last year.

Dudley Council’s cabinet member for transport, Councillor Angus Adams said officers were trained in how to deal with people and added: “It is disappointing that people feel they have to abuse the officers just for doing their job.

“Aggression is not the answer to anything.”