CHARGES have now been reinstated in car parks across Dorset, but cash payment will not be accepted.

Dorset Council will begin reopening its car parks after the government eased the lockdown restrictions on Sunday.

However, visitors to any off-street car parls will not be able to use cash to pay for their ticket.

Key workers are also permitted to continue using the car parks free of charge “until further notice”.

Car parks at visitor destinations, including beaches and country parks across Dorset, remain closed.

Councillor Ray Bryan, portfolio holder for highways travel and environment at Dorset Council said: “It’s important to reinstate these charges in our car-parks now that travel restrictions have been slightly eased, so that we can ensure the maximum amount of people are able to use them to go about their essential journeys.

“It’s important that drivers ensure they have the correct means of paying for their ticket before setting off, so remember to take your phone. Use of ticket machine keypads and cash are obvious ways that Covid-19 could be spread, so we need to reduce or prevent their use wherever possible.”