SOLAR-powered pay and display machines will make motorists fork out for street parking.

Contractors for Blackburn with Darwen Council are putting 37 parking machines around Blackburn town centre.

And from Monday, motorists will be charged for parking in around 300 previously free spaces.

The move has been backed by traders, who say parking spaces in front of their shops are being used by commuters who park all day for free. But opposition councillors reckon it will drive business elsewhere.

Council bosses believe they will make up to £60,000 a year as a result of the new charges but the scheme will not cost anything in electricity because the machines are solar powered. They are the first solar-powered pay and display machines in East Lancashire but the machines are common elsewhere in the country.

For the next three days, people who park in the spaces for more than an hour will receive notes under their windscreens warning of the changes. The only long-stay on-street parking will be around Blackburn College.

The council has employed Legion Parking Services, based in Preston, to monitor parking from Monday. Parking will be enforced between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday, excluding Bank Holidays. Short stay costs 70p an hour, and long stay 50p an hour.

Coun Andy Kay, executive member for regeneration at Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: "We have worked with the traders on this proposal and they welcome it."

Phil Ainsworth, of Darwen Street Traders Association, said: "It is good news as more people will be using the parking spaces."

There will be short-stay parking in Bridge Street, Pilkington Street, Darwen Street, Mincing Lane, Market Street Lane, Fleming Square, King Street, Cardwell Place, Barton Street, Lord Street West, Railway Road and Church Street.

Long-stay car parking will include Weir Street, Vernon Street, Mill Lane, St Peter Street, Freckleton Street, Prince's Street, Paradise Street, Chapel Street and Clayton Street.