CAR parking charges are to be introduced on streets in Darlington town centre from today.

Solar powered parking ticket machines have recently been installed in more than 20 streets where parking will be subject to time restrictions.

Charges will be 80p per hour, paid in half-hourly intervals, with the maximum stay allowed being either one or two hours.

As the scheme is designed to provide more spaces for shoppers, motorists will not be allowed to return to any parking place for an hour.

John Buxton, Darlington Borough Council's director for development and environment, said: "The new scheme will give motorists greater opportunity to park for a short stay near where they want to shop because it will increase the turnover of cars using those parking spaces. Businesses will benefit because motorists will no longer be able to park outside their shops for long periods which at present prevents other shoppers from parking there."

The streets will be patrolled by the council's car park wardens, who will issue £60 fines to motorists whose vehicles do not display a valid ticket.

The ticket machines will accept all coinage and they are to be used exclusively for on-street parking places.

The streets where charging will be introduced are: Beaumont Street; South Arden Street; Grange Road; Northumberland Street; Larchfield Street; Powlett Street; Primrose Street; East Raby Street; Raby Street; West Powlett Street; Duke Street; Barnard Street; Barnard East back Street; Winston Street; Napier Street; Kendrew Street; Gladstone Street; North Lodge Terrace; Park Place; Swan Street; Hargreave Terrace; Victoria Road and Victoria Embankment.