Southend's parking wardens are being armed with new powers and digital cameras as part of a fresh crackdown on motorists.

More wardens could also be drafted in to spearhead evening patrols in parts of the borough including the area around the Cliffs Pavilion, Southend Council said.

From Monday, the team of 28 wardens will only have to wait three minutes instead of five before giving a ticket if a vehicle is parked illegally.

They will take digital images of the position of the car and the ticket issued and close-ups of the windows will be taken to show the absence of a pay and display ticket or disabled passes.

Brian Kelly, Tory cabinet member for transport and councillor for Southchurch, said: "It's not a money-making stunt.

"It's about making the road of the town safer and making sure double yellow lines are complied with.

"Most of the enforcement is directed at normal work hours. We also need to consider what happens during the evening.

"You only have to look at the Cliffs Pavilion in the evening to know there is a problem."