A pay by phone system has been introduced across the borough of Great Yarmouth.

The borough council, in collaboration with the Norfolk Parking Partnership, is offering people the option to choose to pay by text or smartphone App in on-street and off-street council car parks as well paying by cash.

The MiPermit app for iPhone and select Android devices can be downloaded for free from Google Play and the App Store.

Barry Coleman, chairman of the borough council’s economic development committee, said: “People are increasingly using phones to do their daily business across the private and public sectors, whether that’s accessing services on the council’s website, sorting their banking or doing online shopping.

“While coins are still accepted at all our parking machines, pay-by-phone is a more convenient option for some people and has already proved popular elsewhere in the country and in the short time it has been available in Great Yarmouth.”

Anthony White, chairman of the Norfolk Parking Partnership, said: “We’re always looking for new and innovative ways to improve parking options, so we welcome this initiative that makes it even quicker and easier for people to pay.”

Tom Garrod, chairman of Norfolk County Council’s Digital Innovation and Efficiency Committee, said: “We’ve all experienced the frustration of not having any cash for parking, but thanks to mobile technology that can become a thing of the past. It’s essential that we continue to embrace digital innovation to help our daily lives easier.”