Redbridge council earned £3.7 million from parking charges last year, according to a leading road safety charity.

The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM), which examined figures for all of London boroughs, says the figure represented an increase of 14 per cent on the figures for 2010/11.

IAM says London’s local authorities made more than £218 million in parking charges last year, an increase of 17.8 per cent.

But the charity says spending on road safety education and publicity decreased by 22 per cent, from £12.7 million to £9.9 million over the same period.

Simon Best, IAM chief executive, said: “Some London Councils are making enormous profits from parking, while cutting road safety spending on life-saving services such as rehabilitation courses for motoring offenders, education for young drivers and safe routes to schools schemes.”

“London’s councils must recognise the financial burdens already faced by motorists and rule out any further rises in parking fees.”

The figures were calculated using data from the Department for Communities and Local Government, but their accuracy has been disputed by the government.