INFORMATION about available car parking spaces in Darlington could be transmitted around the town by April.

A £160,000 variable messaging system is being set up to try to cut congestion and queues for car parks.

Signs on the main routes into Darlington will show where there are empty spaces in the town centre car parks.

The flow of vehicles in and out of town centre car parks will be monitored in each car park and the information sent to an aerial on the town hall, which will transmit the information to the new signs.

Nick Wallis, the council's cabinet member for highways and transport, said: "The new signs will revolutionise car parking for local and visiting drivers in Darlington and help the general flow of traffic around Darlington's car parks."