Wardens were offered prizes for issuing tickets

National Car Parks (NCP), which controls parking for Westminster City Council in central London, had a "Champion's League" policy.

It rewarded the warden who issued the most tickets with a trophy or other prizes including TVs and pay bonuses.

A council spokesman said the scheme had been phased out and another one based on the quality of an attendant's work will be introduced.

Westminster's cabinet member for transport, Colin Barrow, said the move was a sign the council was willing to listen to criticism of its parking service.

The message we are sending is that the proper place for a Champion's League is on the playing fields of Europe - not the streets of Westminster Westminster City Council's Colin Barrow

"This is a tangible sign that we are changing the way we run the service and are committed to getting it right," he said.

"The message we are sending is that the proper place for a Champion's League is on the playing fields of Europe - not the streets of Westminster."

Westminster's parking policy had been widely criticised.

It was claimed that some tickets were issued before drivers could put their money in a machine.

And Soho businesses claim to have seen cars being ticketed at 0400 BST.