MOTORISTS who appealed against parking tickets in Bolton won two out of every three cases, according to a national report.

The figures were released by the National Parking Adjudication Service (NPAS) in its annual national report. It revealed that out of 98 cases taken to appeal, Bolton drivers emerged victorious in 67 cases.

The adjudication service determines the outcome of appeals and in 38 local cases it came down on the side of the driver, Bolton Council did not contest a further 29 appeals and in the remaining 31 cases it decided the council had issued the tickets correctly.

The figures relate to the year 2001-2002 and since then parking in the town centre has become a political hot potato as motorists and store owners alike complain that over-zealous parking attendants are deterring people from visiting Bolton.

One motorist who appealed to the NPAS was Bolton caterer Malcolm Pickering, who runs the Four Seasons sandwich bar on Bridge Street.

In April he won his appeal against two tickets for parking outside his shop while he unloaded his car.

But Mr Pickering believes the number of people winning appeals could be the tip of the iceberg of drivers who have been wrongly issued tickets.

"It took us nearly 12 months to sort our appeal out and it cost a lot of money, more than the cost of the fine," he said.

"A lot of people can't be bothered so they just grit their teeth and pay the fine."

In the wake of prolonged public criticism, Bolton Council recently set up a strategy committee to consider the future of parking in the town.

Tory councillor Stuart Lever wants the new committee to recommend that a local panel be set up to adjudicate in disputes over parking tickets, rather than drivers having to rely on appeals to the national body.

Ian Taylor, Bolton Council's head of parking services, believes increasing numbers of people are now appealing to the NPAS against parking fines because they are more aware of the service. He said that last year-- the year after the one covered by the NPAS figures -- Bolton Council won 46 per cent of cases.

Better procedures had been put in place to present evidence to an appeal, he said, including photographs taken by parking attendants. "But like anywhere else, there will always be human error," he said.