The change – which will mean an increase from one full-time traffic warden in the Dales to three or four – was due to take place on November 24.

But the Department for Transport was unable to process Derbyshire County Council's application in time.

It means police traffic warden Ivan Lockwood will continue to cover the whole of the Dales on his own until the handover is completed.

The county council has hit out at the Government for the "last-minute" and "unacceptable" delay.

Cllr Brian Lucas, county council environmental service member, said: "It is totally unacceptable for us to be told this at the last minute and we shall be taking it up with the Department for Transport.

"We haven't yet been given a new date for us to take over this important job and we have not been told why it has been held up.

"This set back has caused difficulties for us and our partners," he added.

But the Department for Transport said it was still waiting for the county council to provide it with accurate enough information to go ahead with the handover.

A spokeswoman said: "We'll only be in a position to provide a revised commencement date once we have received that information in a precise and accurate form."

Parking offences will be decriminalised as part of the changes and become civil matters but fines and charges will remain for motorists found parked in the wrong place.

Current police traffic wardens will switch to the new roles.