Croydon Council's parking deal with European parking firm APCOA could be at breaking point as the two parties are struggling to thrash out the final details.

The company was supposed to take over complete control of Croydon's parking services in November but as yet they have failed to come to an agreement that suits both parties.

In the meantime parking services remain in the control of Croydon Council's in-house team.

It is understood that APCOA are demanding the council agree to a clause which would allow them to issue an extra 20,000 tickets each year.

This would bring the total up to 300 Penalty Charge Notices issued in Croydon on a daily basis - generating a revenue of £15,000 a day for the company.

However Councillor Phil Thomas, cabinet member for streets, said: "At the moment we are still in negotiations with APCOA - there are a number of things which still need to be thrashed out.

"But the public do not need to worry about any company, APCOA or not, coming into Croydon and being gung-ho with issuing tickets. As long as I am cabinet member we will always have control of the ticket allocation and I will make sure that no company has free range of handing out tickets."

But council workers have contacted the Croydon Guardian fearing for their jobs and have claimed that the whole parking services department is talking about the extra 20,000 tickets that APCOA is demanding.

Local Labour Group Leader Councillor Tony Newman said: "At last weeks Council meeting we had the sight of Tory Cllr, Phil Thomas, who is responsible for this shambles, actually trying to blame his own colleague Cllr Gavin Barwell.

"Between them they need to sort this out quickly, before taxpayers, motorists and employees suffer even more. I can confirm we will be referring all of our five questions to the District Auditor and demanding an immediate investigation."