A number of parking ticket machines throughout Medway have been out of order for the past few weeks after a spate of vandalism.

The attacks have forced drivers to use online payment methods after parking machines were targeted in Rainham and Rochester.

RingGo, an online payment method, was introduced by the council in 2017 to offer an alternative way to pay for parking. Customers use an app which, although convenient, does cost slightly more than paying by cash.

All three machines in Longley Road car park and one in the Cricketers car park in Rainham are out of order. Machines in Whiffen's Avenue in Chatham and Blue Boar Lane and New Road in Rochester are also not accepting coin payments.

Motorist Kim Wilson, who brought the problem to our attention, said: "The problem with these machines all being out of order is that we are now having to have a mobile to either report out of order machines or use RingGo, all at extra costs.

"Anyone without a mobile will risk a ticket or being told to find a different parking place which will be impossible if all machines are out of order."

Rochester West ward Councillor Stuart Tranter (Con) said: "We have people on the case to fix these machines.

"There has been a spate of vandalism, plus our ticket machines are quite old."

He added: "Getting spare parts remains a problem but new machines are on order; however, it looks like this is going to take some weeks to resolve properly.

"We are looking at where we can increase parking capacity in the historic areas and at controlled parking zones for residents."

Ruth Du Lieu, assistant director of frontline services at Medway Council, said: "Unfortunately a number of our pay and display parking machines have been vandalised.

"Machines which were repairable have been fixed and we are looking into replacing permanently damaged machines.

"We apologise to motorists for any inconvenience this may cause. Thank you to members of the public who have reported damage to parking machines.

Medway Council confirmed a total of four machines in Rochester and four machines in Rainham were out of order and acts of vandalism have been reported to the police.

It didn't comment on the costs incurred by the out-of-order machines and as the machines are being replaced they are not affected by the spending freeze.

Motorists have been encouraged to report any faulty machines by calling 01634 331760.

Read more: All the latest news from Medway