CITY parking bosses are to get tough with drivers of petrol and diesel cars who park in bays for electric vehicles.

At present, the city council has 65 public charge points with more than half of them in City Parking car parks.

A further six are currently being installed at on-street locations and funding has been requested for a further 18.

But some selfish motorists are parking in car park bays reserved for electric cars meaning they have nowhere to charge up.

Electric cars can park and charge for free in City Parking car parks and can stay as long as they like.

Parking bosses have now decided to put up signs warning motorists the bays are reserved.

And those who choose to ignore the signs will be asked to move out and find another bay.

City parking chairman Martin Neill said: “The council has been monitoring the use of electric vehicles charging bays across the city.

“Feedback from electric vehicle owners shows the charging point spaces within city parking car parks are frequently taken up for parking by other vehicles.

"Blocking bays in this way is a frustration for existing electric vehicle drivers and could put off other people from becoming electric vehicle owners.

“The charge points at City Parking locations were used 492 times in April so clearly there’s a demand for them."