Drivers who routinely flout the law by parking illegally face having their cars crushed.

From next month, vehicles regularly caught on double yellow lines in Leicester – and whose drivers have failed to pay fines – will be towed away.

There are 3,926 outstanding parking tickets in Leicester, for 250 vehicles. The worst culprit owes almost £10,000 from 140 tickets.

A standard parking fine for parking on yellow lines is £70, which is reduced to £35 if it is paid within 14 days.

Andy Thomas, city council road traffic manager, said those who did not pay would now face tough measures.

He said: "The message is very simple – if they do not pay their debts, eventually their car will be crushed.

"There are some people who deliberately flout the law. These people should hang their heads in shame.

"We know who they are and when we find them we will take their cars away. We will go about this honestly and give people the chance to pay, but if they ignore this opportunity then they will lose their car.

"What's really sad is that we have to do this."

Mr Thomas said there were 1,311 unpaid tickets issued for foreign vehicles. These were likely to get the same treatment if they were still in the city or returned.

Leicester City Council said data protection laws meant it was unable to name and shame offenders.

A towing company will use powers available under the Road Traffic Act 2004. The deal is being finalised and the value of the contract has not been disclosed.

Leicestershire County Council – which last year pursued £270,000 in unpaid parking fines – is to discuss joining forces with the city council on the deal.

David Horton, who lives in the West End of Leicester, which is blighted by illegal parking, said: "It's fair enough as it is the person's own fault they have not paid the ticket.

"The council is right to do it because it would have given warnings before seizing the car and crushing it."

Under the Road Traffic Act, vehicles can be towed away when the culprit has ignored letters and summonses from the council.

The council said the car would be taken to a compound and would be released when the debt was paid. If this did not happen, the car would be crushed.

Councillor Patrick Kitterick, cabinet member for highways and transportation, said: "I realise sometimes people will choose not to get their car back and it will cost us money, but it is a matter of principle that the most persistent offenders are dealt with in this way."

In the county, one Hinckley woman has 73 outstanding parking tickets – more than £5,000 in fines.

Ian Drummond, assistant director for transportation at County Hall, said: "It seems unbelievable to me that people would just ignore tickets."

He said it was his understanding the city's contract would allow the county to join the scheme, but this had not yet been discussed.