OVER-zealous traffic wardens have been putting parking tickets on their own council's vehicles - some while they were parked in the civic centre car park.

Newcastle City Council has admitted public money has been spent to cover the cost of the fines on council vans that were parked illegally. A ticket given to a councillor was also met by the local authority, said officials.

The decision by the Labour-run council to cover the cost of the councillor's £30 ticket out of the public purse has been criticised.

Opposition Liberal Democrats are demanding to know the identity of the person and the circumstances of the case.

The row erupted as the council also admitted that 15 parking tickets handed to staff and people driving council vans have been settled by the Civic Centre. Most were issued to council vans parked illegally in disabled parking bays, previously used for loading.

All the penalties were incurred in the Civic Centre car park and the tickets were issued by the council's parking control staff.

The revelation came Liberal Democrat councillor, Anita Lower, questioned council chiefs and checks were carried out, going back to October 2001.

Coun Lower said: "This is council taxpayers' money and, if a councillor has had a fine paid by the Civic Centre, he or she should be prepared to stand up and explain why."

Cabinet member for environment, public health and safety Councillor Linda Wright confirmed council departments had settled 15 fixed penalty parking notices against members of staff and council vans.

"I understand this was felt appropriate after considering the circumstances," she said.

"The majority issued to vans were for parking in the disabled bays previously used for loading and now re-designated, the remainder to those working on a Saturday who failed to collect a permit from security. I am informed one ticket has been paid by the city council for a councillor.

"Five other councillors who received tickets paid the fines themselves."