Pay and display machines are being brought back to Barnet – but the new parking terminals will not take cash.

Credit and debit card machines are due to be installed at 16 council-run car parks to provide an alternative to the controversial pay-by-phone system.

Motorists and traders have called for the reinstatement of cash payment machines since they were ripped out by Barnet Council almost two years ago.

But the authority remains reluctant to go back to what it says was a costly and inefficient method of managing its parking revenue.

Parking portfolio holder Councillor Dean Cohen took over from Councillor Brian Coleman, who was responsible for introducing pay-by-phone parking, last summer.

He said more card machines on top of the initial 16 will be installed in town centres in February.