COUNCIL bosses in Darlington are looking into ways to make it easier to park in the town.

The council is launching a feasibility study and consultation exercise exploring new ways of paying to park.

The study will look into the possibility of installing systems that allow people to pay once they have returned to their cars instead of the present "pay and display".

The council is hoping this will prevent motorists having to rush back to their cars before parking tickets run out.

It is launching the study after listening to traders and shoppers who called for different systems to be put in place.

The Cornmill Centre car park, in Crown Street, operates a "pay on leaving" system, and the council has also increased the capacity at East Street, which has a similar "pay on exit" method.

Future developments in the town centre will have similar parking systems, including the 900-space car park planned as part of the £90m Commercial Street shopping and leisure complex.

Nick Wallis, the borough council's cabinet member for highways and transport, said: "We have listened carefully to the views of town centre businesses and, in particular, the idea of converting our car parks to new systems.

"There are already two successful town centre car parks using 'pay on leaving', with more to come over the next few years.

"The consultation will help us determine whether that programme should be brought forward."