Shropshire Council, the local authority of Shropshire in England, is trialling a new project that allows people to make parking payments through mobile phones.

The new cashless payment system is currently available at the short stay car parks in Bridge Street, St Austin’s and The Tannery, as well as in the Frankwell Main long-stay car park.

The council has displayed details on the register method for drivers to pay using a mobile phone or internet-enabled tablet on information signs in each of the car parks.

In order to use the service, drivers are required to list the registration number of their vehicles, along with payment details and the location code of the car park.

"We are trialling this system in response to requests from businesses to make car parking as flexible and easy as possible, so we hope it will prove popular."

The new payment system levies a service charge of ten pence, which is added to the parking charge.

Shropshire Council highways and transport cabinet member Claire Wild said: "We are trialling this system in response to requests from businesses to make car parking as flexible and easy as possible, so we hope it will prove popular.

"The ten pence service charge does not go to the council, it is an administrative charge made by the service provider, and is very common where this system is used in other parts of the country."

During the trial, the council will monitor the use of the cashless payment system to see if it should be introduced on a permanent basis, and potentially at further car parks.

The trial, which commenced on 7 April, will run for 12 months.