The number of parking fines issued by Brent Council has increased by a “startling” 40 per cent in the last year, new figures show.

Data released by London Councils – the umbrella group for councils in the capital – shows that Brent issued 122,416 parking fines in 2011/12, compared to 87,528 the year before.

And penalty charge notices for moving traffic offences, usually enforced by mobile CCTV cars, has increased a massive 165 per cent, from 7,967 to 21,144.

In total, Brent issued 146,002 penalty charge notices (PCNs) – the 12th highest number in London – raking in £7,161,419 from motorists, more than £2million more than the year before.

In contrast, neighbouring Harrow cut the number of PCNs it issued, from 106,039 in 2010/11 to 100,599 a year later.

Liberal Democrat transport spokesman, Councillor Daniel Brown, said the figures were “startling” and accused Labour councillors of “pumping the parking account for every penny they can get” at the expense of motorists.

He added: “It’s difficult to believe that standards of driving have deteriorated so much in one year to justify such a big hike in the number of tickets.

“First Labour hiked the cost of residents' parking permits and has now it has massively increased the number of parking tickets issued.

“The aim of parking enforcement should not be to extract cash from local residents but to keep traffic flowing and ensure that residents and shoppers can park near where they need to go.”

The huge increase in fines issued by Brent comes despite a fall for the third consecutive year in the total number of tickets issued by all local authorities in London.

Last summer, the council removed the one-hour free parking scheme in Preston Road and Bridge Road, Wembley, and introduced pay-and-display controls, despite protests from traders and a 2,400-strong petition.

The council admitted to the Harrow Times that it had increased enforcement action on motorists.

It faces having to strip out £100million from its budget in the four years from 2011-15 after massive reductions in central Government funding.

In a statement, it said: “Brent has stepped up enforcement action on those breaking parking regulations – revenue made is put back in to delivering transport-related services.”