More than 50,000 parking tickets were handed out in Oxfordshire in 2005-6 - costing motorists an estimated £1.25m.

The 50,517 parking tickets issued for street parking offences were an increase of 1,983 on the previous year. It means that every day in Oxfordshire, an average of 138 penalty charge notices were given out by Control Plus wardens, right, on behalf of the county council. About £3,400 in fines is collected each day.

The figures were released by the National Parking Adjudication Service and shows the increase in Oxfordshire was against the national trend, which saw most councils issuing fewer tickets.

Helen Crozier, the county council's parking manager, said: "The main reason for the increase is because of the new Controlled Parking Zones that have come into force during the year."

Three-quarters of drivers pay a penalty of £20 within 14 days, but the rest have to pay the full charge of £40 for delaying payment.

David Robertson, the council's cabinet member for transport, said: "The money from parking tickets and meters is very much ring-fenced.

"It's not a cash cow, as many people think. Obviously, most of the money is put back into enforcement. Any surplus has been spent on Thornhill park and ride, which is having a £2m refurbishment."

Fewer than 0.2 per cent of people challenge parking tickets issued in Oxfordshire, but the result is likely to be favourable if they do.

Of the 89 people who complained about their tickets to NPAS last year, the majority won their case. In a third of claims, the council did not contest the complaint.