Parking charges in Hastings town centre are set to rise to meet the cost of getting rid of dumped cars.

A weekly season ticket will increase from £10.50 to £12, a quarterly ticket from £100 to £120 and a quarterly restricted zone ticket in Priory Street will increase from £60 to £75. Display charges will increase to 70p for one hour and £6 for 24 hours.

The increase by Hastings Borough Council is to pay for the cost of removing abandoned cars from the streets within 48-hours.

Council officers have estimated the rise will generate an extra £100,000 between October, when the scheme is due to start, and next April.

In a full financial year the increases could bring in £280,000.

Councillor Paul Silverson, cabinet member responsible for transport, said: "We've been pushing the DVLA to take over their powers to allow us to remove abandoned, dumped and untaxed cars for some time.

"The Cubit scheme, which we ran in conjunction with the police, fire service and DVLA in March this year, was a real success and received support from organisations and residents across the town.

"Taking over these powers will not just benefit us in the short-term by taking these dangerous vehicles off the streets, there will be long-term benefits too."

The Cubit scheme resulted in 500 cars being removed, with only 71 reclaimed by owners.

More than 2,000 cars were removed from the streets between 1998 and 2000 at a cost of £52,550 to the tax payer.

Coun Silverson said: " A small increase in car park charges will fully fund this scheme."