BAILIFFS are to be sent to the homes of motorists who fail to pay their parking fines.

Fine dodgers have run up arrears of more than £160,000 across east Cleveland.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council has issued 24,000 tickets since taking over responsibility for issuing the £60 penalties in June.

While the majority of motorists have paid, 1,600 motorists have not done so and now risk a visit from a debt collector.

The council's new strategy is to send non payers a four warning letters.

Before bringing out the big stick, the council is offering an incentive - the issue of a fine and the chance to have it halved to £30 if paid within 14 days.

If that does not work, a letter is sent out 28 days later warning that the fine is still "live" and the debt is £60. A further 28 days on, the council sends out a second letter warning that the fine will rise to £90 if it is not paid.

Fourteen days later a third letter is sent, informing the motorist the debt is now registered at court, adding another £5 for administration. Three weeks later, a fourth letter is despatched, this time from the bailiffs, but still offering a chance to pay and avoid their arrival.

Councillor Eric Empson, the council's cabinet member for strategic planning, development and infrastructure, said: "We are determined to make every possible effort to retrieve this money.

"Abuse of parking restrictions is not a trivial matter. This should convince them that the right thing to do is pay up.''

He added: "Every one of these fines is an example of a selfish motorist. Their actions can impact on the swift attendance of emergency vehicles and have a detrimental effect on business.

"That is why we make every effort to sort out payment of the fine and see no reason why, if that fails, we should not adopt a get-tough policy."