THEY'RE the jobsworths we all love to hate. They're the butt of cruel jokes and sometimes cruel treatment.

So it's good to learn that in York at least, the much-maligned traffic warden seems to be doing a decent public service.

The city's wardens have one of the best performance records in the country, with just a tiny fraction of penalty charge notices going to appeal.

Transport boss Ann Reid says it shows our traffic wardens are fair and adhere to regulations.

It won't turn them into overnight favourites, or shed the "yellow peril" tag. But it's what motorists respect.