BOURNEMOUTH council is preparing to extend its pay-by-phone parking service to more on-street spaces.

Traders have welcomed plans to implement RingGo in 12 streets, as well as the car park in Westover Gardens, on Monday, July 4.

The service enables motorists to pay by mobile phone call, text, online or by iPhone and Android phone applications.

Cllr Michael Filer, cabinet member for transport, said the service was more convenient for motorists and reduced the council’s cost of collecting cash from pay-and-display.

“The implementation of RingGo five years ago was a great success,” he said.

“Public demand to extend it to on-street spaces has been high.”

Nigel Hedges, president of Bournemouth Chamber of Trade and Commerce said: “Our members say the ease and convenience for them and their customers encourages them to stay longer in town centre and relieves them of the worries about ‘overstaying’ penalties.”

Bournemouth became one of the first UK councils to implement cashless parking in 2006.