STATE-of-the-art, solar-powered car park ticket machines are to be installed in Petersfield car parks by East Hampshire District Council to give drivers more ways to pay and display.

The council is spending nearly £110,000 replacing 27 coin-only meters in its 13 car parks in the district. The new meters will allow people to pay by debit and credit cards as well as cash.

The council has already been testing a new meter in the Central Car Park in Petersfield, and will now extend the scheme across its car parks in the district.