TOUGH new measures may be introduced to tackle the problem of people parking their cars on pavements in County Durham.

Durham County councillors agreed to examine the possibility of introducing parking restrictions on narrow streets and will urge police to take a tougher approach on obstructed footpaths.

It follows the publication of a report that concludes drivers who park their vehicles on pavements are adding to a £75m backlog of footpath repairs in the county.

The essential work is making footways impassable for people in wheelchairs or mobility scooters, or with prams or pushchairs.

The report followed an investigation into the extent of the problem by the county's scrutiny sub-committee for looking after the environment.

Councillor Gordon Tennant, who chaired the working group which carried out the probe, said cracked or uneven footpaths could cause pedestrians to trip, slip or fall and suffer injuries.

He said: "They can also visually detract from the environment, and coupled with other factors like graffiti, poorly maintained fences and overgrown gardens, adversely affect the perception of local people and generate a heightened fear of crime."

Coun Tennant said a key finding of the study was the degree of damage caused by people parking on footpaths in housing estates, particularly older estates with narrow roads.

He said the growth in two-car families, coupled with fewer people using garages to park their cars, was making matters worse.