MOTORISTS are abandoning their cars on the double yellow lines on Skipton High Street during market days, possibly because there is currently no traffic warden to penalise them.

Skipton Police have received three complaints of parked cars, delivery wagons and trailers, causing problems for pedestrians and other motorists.

The owners are apparently parking up to nip into the shops.

Paul Evans, who works in the town, said on Wednesday lunchtime he counted 20 vehicles contravening the yellow lines - and there was not a police officer or traffic warden in sight.

He said it was hard enough for pedestrians to duck between the market stalls to cross the High Street without having to squeeze between parked cars as well. "We don't seem to have any traffic control at all," said Mr Evans.

He added that when he called the police he was assured that officers were being deployed to put penalty tickets on the offending vehicles.

Sergeant Bill Burns said that obstruction of the highway would always fall into the police's remit.

He said that when time allowed officers had a purge on the problem but the number of offending vehicles crept back up.

Traffic wardens are employed by the police but Skipton does not have anyone in post.

Officers have asked Craven District Council if it wishes to take on the responsibility of employing the wardens.

Head of operations Greg Robinson said it was looking into the feasibility and discussing it with North Yorkshire County Council, which as the highways authority, has to give its consent.