Motorists in Shepton Mallet are being warned to stay vigilant after a sharp rise in parking fines across Somerset.

Between August 2023 and August 2024, the council issued 59,106 parking fines, compared to just 10,628 fines in the previous year, according to a Freedom of Information request from cinch, the UK's biggest online retailer of used cars.

In total, 721 fines were handed out in Shepton Mallet between August 2023 and August 2024, representing 1.2% of the 59,106 fines issued across Somerset in that period. These fines generated £16,670 for the council.

The top locations in Shepton Mallet where drivers are most likely to be fined are:

• High Street: 280 fines, generating £8,095
• Great Ostry Car Park: 270 fines, generating £4,735
• Regal Road Car Park (East): 129 fines, generating £2,425
• Cannards Grave Road Car Park: 111 fines, generating £1,505
• Regal Road Car Park (West): 41 fines, generating £670
• Board Cross: 47 fines, generating £525
• Waterloo Road: 7 fines, generating £210
• Paul Street: 11 fines, generating £420
• Town Lane: 20 fines, generating £610

Sam Sheehan, motoring editor at cinch, said: "These figures should be a reminder for all drivers to carefully check any nearby signs before parking—especially in busy areas or places they aren't familiar with. Nobody wants to find a parking fine come through their letterbox."