Parking meters can 'summon help'

Old-style parking metres have been vandalised in the town

Parking meters with mobile phone technology are being installed in an East Sussex town so that they can text for help if they are vandalised.

The "intelligent", solar-powered, pay-and-display meters can also order a service when they malfunction, and call for their money boxes to be emptied.

About 150 machines will be installed in Eastbourne, East Sussex council said.

County councillor Matthew Lock said: "This will be one of the most secure parking services in the country."

Old machines vandalised

He said wireless machines, made of toughened stainless steel, would come into operation on Monday, when the council begins to enforce a new controlled parking zone in the town centre.

It follows vandalism attacks on old-style meters, he added.

"The vast majority of people would not dream of vandalising or stealing from ticket machines.

"But those few who have committed this anti-social crime were stealing from ordinary people, who end up paying for repairs through parking charges," he said.

People who tamper with the new machines risk being caught in the act and could be eventually be jailed, because parking staff will be able to alert police about attacks "immediately", he added.