Plymouth City Council has issued a statement saying it will continue using a camera car to enforce parking rules.

This is despite the government approving a new law that bans local authorities from using the vehicles to punish certain offences such as breaching no loading restrictions.

A spokesperson for the council told local newspaper The Herald: "Camera cars have not been banned. There are, however, government plans to stop them being used to enforce certain things.

"Our camera car spends the majority of its time checking for inconsiderate and dangerous parking at bus stops and schools and this important enforcement will not be affected by the planned changes."

The spokesperson went on to add that all of the fines imposed thanks to the camera car are reinvested into road repairs in Plymouth and said the police, local bus companies and parents of school children are very supportive of the vehicles.

Earlier this week, communities secretary Eric Pickles claimed "greedy councils" were using camera cars as a "cash cow" to boost their incomes.

New regulations mean tickets can no longer be issued through the post for parking offences caught on CCTV unless they occur on critical routes, such as near schools and bus lanes. This is a significant change for people with careers in parking , as it means more emphasis will be placed on tickets that are physically attached to car windscreens.

Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin said the new rules are fairer on drivers and will ensure parking enforcement is proportionate to the offence that has been committed.

The use of CCTV to monitor parking was first enforced by the Labour Party ten years ago. Some nine million fines are now imposed by local authorities on an annual basis, with £1.3 billion raised in this way in 2010.

A three-month consultation led to the decision to change the rules in this area and councils will now be forced to publish details of how the money they raise from parking fines is spent.