Bristol City supporters obeyed new parking rules banning them parking on roads around Ashton Gate – even though the restrictions were not being enforced.

Last night's clash with Blackpool was City's first home match since the city council announced that double yellow lines were being painted in Winterstoke Road and on all main roads and slip-roads on the south side of the Cumberland Basin.

Fans stuck to the new rules, leaving roads where supporters normally park standing empty.

But despite promising to tow away illegally parked vehicles, the city council said it wasn't ready to start enforcing the new restrictions in time for last night's match.

The authority said this was because work to paint all the new yellow lines had not been completed and insisted illegally parked vehicles were 'likely' to be targeted during City's next home fixture, against Peterborough on October 17.

Last night, City supporters criticised the new rules and said they would force drivers to park in residential streets around Ashton Gate.

Teresa Coombes, 39, who lives in Wells Street close to Ashton Gate, said supporters' cars fill her street during every home match.

She said: "I don't understand why they have painted the new yellow lines, because traffic always flowed OK when the fans were parked on those roads.

"The supporters will now park in the surrounding streets and people will start arriving earlier."

Robins fan Graham Tiley said he decided not to drive to the match last night because he was worried he wouldn't be able to find a space.

He said: "A friend of mine said he was looking for a space at 4pm and couldn't find one close to the ground, so he parked near Parson Street station.

"I normally park opposite the Tobacco Factory on Winterstoke Road. I've never had any problems.

"This decision to introduce the new lines is crazy – they should have found some alternative parking for supporters beforehand."

Bristol City spokesman Adam Baker said the new restrictions did not appear to have caused problems for people attending the match.

He said: "In terms of the number of people getting through into the ground at kick-off, we were about average."

The new restrictions run from the junction of Winterstoke Road with Ashton Drive northwards towards the Brunel Way junction and along all slip roads off this junction, to Clanage Road roundabout and on to the Clift House Road junction, where it joins up with existing restrictions. They also cover the elevated Brunel Way carriageway across the junction.

Other areas where supporters regularly park their cars during match days, including the triangular patch of grass off the A370 near the David Lloyd gym, were coned off and monitored by police last night.

Supporters have been told they face a charge of at least £150 plus storage costs of £20 a day if they break the new parking rules.

Officials from Bristol City are trying to find alternative parking for fans.

The city council says the yellow lines were laid down after a request by police.

The authority has said the new restrictions have been introduced to ensure safe and unobstructed traffic flows and to protect sight lines at junctions and pedestrian crossing places.