PAY and display machines - worth £50,000 - have been stolen from Worcestershire car parks, it has been revealed.

Nine pay and display machines have been stolen while one has been damaged in recent weeks. Each machine costs £5,000.

The machines have been taken from car parks in Evesham and Broadway.

A spokesperson from Wychavon District Council said: "Several pay and display machines have been stolen from Wychavon’s car parks in recent weeks.

"Wychavon is now appealing to anyone with information about the thefts to contact police.

"In total, nine machines have been stolen and one damaged.

"Wychavon is exploring options for replacing the machines including measures to discourage future thefts.

"Each machine will cost £5,000 to buy and install so if we decide to replace all 10 then that’s £50,000 we’ve effectively ‘lost’ as it won’t be available to spend on something else."

Four machines were stolen from car parks in Chapel Street, Burford Road and The Leys in Evesham between December 15 and 17.

Another two machines were taken from Broadway Station Car Park on December 16 2021.

On 20 December 2021, two machines were taken from Milestone Ground Car Park, also in Broadway.

Another machine was removed from Oat Street Car Park in Evesham on 28 December 2021 while another was pulled out and damaged beyond repair.

A spokesperson from Wychavon District Council said Wychavon would not be charging for parking in Chapel Street, Burford Road and The Leys or in Milestone Ground car park until new machines were installed. 

However, charges will still apply in Broadway Station car park and Oat Street car park as other machines are still working there. 

Cllr Emma Stokes, executive board member for resident and customer services on Wychavon district council, said: “We’re supporting the police with their enquiries and urge anyone with any information about these thefts to contact them by calling 101.

“These thefts have cost the taxpayer a lot of money in terms of the investment we now need to make in new machines.

"This is money that could have been better spent to benefit our residents.”