While no-one here appears to be able to hide from the traffic wardens, motorists from the Republic seem to be doing just that, and they are failing to pay their parking tickets.

In just 18 months, motorists with southern registered vehicles have clocked up more than £700,000 in unpaid tickets.

According to figures released to the Northern Ireland Assembly last week, between October 2006 and March 2008 16,950 tickets were issued to vehicles registered in the Republic of Ireland.

However, according to NCP, who now have responsibility for traffic wardens, 12,324 of these tickets are still to be paid.

A Department of Regional Development (DRD) spokesperson said: "Currently, DRD cannot pursue southern vehicle owners who are issued with a parking ticket in the north due to legal issues surrounding the exchange of vehicle keeper details. This prevents Vehicle Licensing Unit in the south from passing owner/keeper details to the DVA in Coleraine."

The spokesperson revealed that Roads Service officials were working with DVA in Coleraine and the Department of Transport in the south in attempting to resolve this problem. Measures such as clamping and removal of vehicles may be introduced later this year, and southern drivers with outstanding tickets could find their vehicles clamped or removed on their return to the vehicle.