The new civil enforcement officers – as traffic wardens have been known since March 31 this year – will be able to fine drivers up to £70.

The move comes under a range of new powers which include being able to send fixed penalty notices through the post.

But the new legislation also allows councils to give wardens even more powers – and these include enforcing taxi ranks.

Preston Council says it plans to introduce this, as well as giving wardens the power to hand out fines for parking in front of drop kerbs, double parking and parking on footways and verges.

A council spokesman said: "This is a complicated area and requires careful handling to make sure any powers are being enforced correctly, so it will take some time before full enforcement in these areas is undertaken."

Taxi drivers today welcomed the move.

Mick Rooney, the boss of Ribbleton Taxis, said: "I think it is only fair for the black cabs because sometimes you see them hanging off the end of a rank having to obstruct Friargate because two or three cars have decided to park on the rank.

"It is a problem on the Friargate rank and you can sometimes see it on Church Street."

Other drivers, however, have slammed the changes.

A spokesman for the Association of British Drivers said: "Like all these things it does not take long before any integrity or responsibility in enforcement disappears and it becomes a grubby dash for money."

Roger Lawson, of the ABD, said: "If you take the experience of London, where they have had these new powers for a while, all that happens is councils use it to collect money and they often have a very vicious enforcement regime."

Under the new powers traffic wardens can give out two levels of fixed penalty notices – £50 for less serious offences and £70 for serious offences.

In addition, cameras can now be used to catch motorists breaking the law, with their fines being sent through the post to the car's owner.