Traders and council officers have slammed vandals who have been wrecking newly installed parking ticket machines.

The equipment was installed last Thursday in the Richmond Avenue car park in Benfleet by Castle Point Council.

The authority was criticised when it began charging people in the previously free car park and since the machine has been put in place it has been damaged at least five times.

A piece of wood and glass was rammed in and coins have been glued in the slots.

Traders and nearby residents have been campaigning to get rid of the car parking charges but they are not happy with whoever is damaging the council property.

Michael Arnold of Barkins Butchers in High Road, Benfleet, said: "We don't know who is doing it and we are not condoning their behaviour.

"We are fighting the charges but we are doing it properly."

Nigel Thomas, the council's director of technical services, said it had not reported the matter to the police but car park staff were being vigilant.

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