‘Councils are using CCTV to issue motorists with parking fines on an “industrial” scale, a government minister has said.

Brandon Lewis, the local government minister, pledged the Coalition will clamp down on abuse of the technology as it emerged drivers have been hit with at least £312 million in fines generated by CCTV cameras.

Big Brother Watch, the civil liberty campaign group, found growing numbers of local authorities are using the cameras to monitor parking offences and other traffic contraventions.

At least 36 local authorities across England and Wales are using static CCTV cameras and at least 58 are using cameras mounted on cars.’

Read more: Town halls using CCTV on 'industrial' scale to fine motorists, says minister