Drivers have paid out in excess of £45,000 in car parking charges and fines since parking charges came in to force along the County Durham seafront last month.

Motorists who paid to park in Seaham in the first month where charges were introduced by Durham County Council generated nearly £34,000 in revenue in a month, it has been revealed.

A Freedom of Information request stated that machines in place at six car parks where charges have been introduced (Seaham Hall Beach, Vane Tempest, Seaham Marina, Dock Top, Noses Point) generated £32,224.40

Other machines for 32 bays on North Road gathered £1,460.85.

259 parking fines were then issued by wardens, meaning that if this, at a minimum, equates to £50 per fine this adds up to around £12,000.

However, the council have since confirmed that charges paid by motorists are reinvested in to maintenance 

Mark Jackson, Durham County Council’s head of transport and contract services, commented: “The new charges are limited to six locations and people can still park for free in numerous other sites around Seaham town centre, all of which are a short distance from the sea front.

"Any money raised from parking charges is reinvested into maintaining and improving car parks, transport related projects and highway improvements across County Durham."

Two weeks into the new measures in early May, we spoke to residents along the seafront to see how the charges are working - and whether they believe it's had an impact on the town.

Lesley Knight was one pedestrian by the iconic Tommy statue who spoke about the impact the charges could have on local businesses.

She said: "It is hard to say at this stage what the full impact is but it is quieter than it normally is. All of these businesses along the seafront are here and the charges could chase people away."

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Another resident, who wished not to be named, said: "It's a huge shame because Seaham is a great place to visit and I worry this will stop people coming down."

Hilary and David Fielding, who were walking along the seafront with their pup, said they have noticed a huge difference in traffic almost immediately.

Gesturing over to the Terrace Green Car park, the couple said: "There are fewer cars now - when the parking charges weren't there these used to be full."