A LEADING car park operator will enforce new parking restrictions on the streets of Durham City.

Durham County Council has given the job of policing the scheme to National Car Parks (NCP), which was chosen over five other bidders.

The council is introducing pay and display areas, residents' permits and other parking controls in many city streets in three phases between autumn and the spring of next year to ease congestion. The company will be responsible for managing and enforcing the restrictions but the city's police officers will still deal with parking on double yellow lines.

NCP is the country's largest commercial car park operator with 500 sites and has already won the contract to manage on-street parking in Lewisham, London.

The contract was awarded under the Government's 'best value' regime, which aims to ensure that public services are cost-effective and efficient.

Council leader Don Robson said: "This is a very important step in realising the county council's ambition to implement a comprehensive package of integrated transport proposals in the centre of Durham City.

"It symbolises the county council's commitment to preserving the city's world heritage status while maintaining the attractiveness and economic viability of the city.