A new system is being launched to track down drivers trying to dodge parking fines.

Hastings Council is using a private company to track down the car owner's address via a database that holds registration numbers.

If the car owner fails to pay the penalty fee within the time allowed the council will be able to send out a reminder.

Previously the DVLA was used to trace car owners but this proved costly and time consuming. The new system is not only quicker, taking less than 24 hours to find an address, but each enquiry costs just 15p.

The council hopes the new facility may also be used to find the owners of abandoned cars.

Coun Paul Silverson, cabinet member for transport, said people who are not paying up are cheating the system and need to be caught.

He said: "The new system will enable us to track down car owners quickly.

"This means the surplus money generated by on-street parking enforcement is ploughed back into highway safety such as traffic calming schemes, road improvements and other similar schemes."

The council caused controversy last year when it introduced a parking scheme which residents feared would turn Hastings into a ghost town.

The parking restrictions were aimed at tackling parking problems and traffic congestion.

A team of 26 traffic wardens was given the task of enforcing the new laws and handing out fines of up to £40 to offenders.