WINCHESTER City Council made £4.2 million from parking last year, an increase of nearly 15 per cent.

New figures reveal how civic chiefs made more from fees and penalties than Portsmouth despite having around half the population.

Income has continued to soar this year despite an ongoing price freeze and the closure of Friarsgate car park.

Parking chief Cllr James Byrnes said the figures reflect Winchester's increasing popularity, adding that there are no plans to raise charges next year.

The district accounts for nearly a fifth of Hampshire's record £22 million 'profit', according to research by the RAC Foundation.

The surplus is reinvested in council services, but it has led to allegations by the right-wing TaxPayers' Alliance that motorists are being used as "cash cows".

Cllr Byrnes, portfolio holder for parking, tourism and local economy, denied the claim.

He said: "In my view it's more likely to be a reflection of the increasing people of people coming to Winchester.

"Our parking policy is designed to encourage people into the out of city centre car parks, onto public transport and onto the park and ride.

"I think we've got the balance between people who want to come into Winchester and spend the day – who have got out of town parking – while people who want to be there an hour have got somewhere more convenient."

The city council's surplus has risen by nearly 50 per cent since 2010/11 with drivers paying up to £1.30 an hour.

A meeting last week heard income has increased again since April despite the closure of Friarsgate in April.

Council leader Stephen Godfrey said he was "mystified" by the jump but added: "We are delighted it means good news for business, good news for Winchester and good news for our finances."

A council spokesman said the increase was partly explained by more passengers using the city's park and ride.

Across Hampshire the amount made from parking has increased by nearly a third over the past five years, from £16.9m to £21.9m. A record £688m was made across England in 2014/15.

Eastleigh Borough Council made a £1.4m surplus while Southampton earned £4.9 million. Portsmouth City Council collected £3 million.

Jonathan Isaby, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "Small charges are sometimes necessary to manage our roads but Hampshire's motorists will suspect they are simply being used as cash cows for the council.

"There are already sky high taxes on fuel and for owning a car so councils must be careful that they don't heap even more misery onto hard-pressed taxpayers."