A council has raked in up to almost £400,000 in motoring fines in just six months by targeting parents on the school run.

The crackdown was the work of Croydon Borough Council, who closed off roads to those dropping children to and from three primary schools in the capital.

Officials claimed it was to manage congestion, but during the six-month scheme up to £380,120 worth of fines were handed out to parents.

The pilot project saw parents banned from driving through roads outside Heavers Farm Primary, St Chad's and Woodcote Primary School in south east London.

A total of 2,924 penalty notice charges - at £130 each - were issued between October 2 last year and March 2 by Croydon Borough Council.