FEWER parking tickets are being handed out in Bolton, according to the latest figures.

It is one of the few towns in the country where the number of parking penalties issued has fallen.

In the year 2002-2003, the number of tickets fell in Bolton from 51,000 to 48,000.

But fixed-penalty tickets issued by local authorities across England and Wales, excluding London, rose by 50 per cent over the same period -- from 1.4 million to 2.1 million.

Ian Taylor, Bolton Council's head of parking, said: "We like to see motorists behaving themselves, rather than contravening the regulations.

"Hopefully, the trend of falling fines will continue in Bolton."

The figures, from the National Parking Adjudication Service (NPAS), which rules on appeals against fines, may come as a surprise to some motorists who deluged Bolton Council with complaints when parking enforcement was transferred to attendants working for private company APCOA.

Shoppers have claimed that over-zealous attendants have forced them away from the town centre.

The figures reveal that Bolton motorists had almost a 50 per cent success rate when they referred an appeal over parking fines to the NPAS.

In 2001-2002, the success rate was even higher, with 68 per cent of appeals successful.

An NPAS spokesman said: "Drivers have a pretty high chance of success if they manage to get through the process.

"Many motorists think it is the end of a line if the council rejects their representations. But that is not the case."