FAR fewer motorists were fined for illegal parking in Redcar and Cleveland due to a combination of a cyber attack on the local council and the Covid-19 outbreak which closed many car parks.

In the first six months of the year the number of parking fines being issued by Redcar and Cleveland Council enforcement officers plummeted by 68 per cent when compared to the same period last year.

The cyber attack by hackers in February meant many usual IT functions could not be carried out until computer networks were restored.

This limited the use of handheld devices typically used by parking enforcement officers to issue fines.

A number of council car parks were closed following the first national lockdown in March, not re-opening until June.

A report said during this period members of the council’s enforcement team were re-deployed to help with the provision of personal protective equipment to care homes in the borough.