Spy cars will be positioned outside schools to combat dangerous parking by the end of this month.

The North Essex Parking Partnership (NEPP) hopes to start using CCTV vehicles for enforcement purposes in January.

The issue of dangerous parking outside primary schools has been identified as a police priority in several villages in the Braintree district.

During December, NEPP carried out tests on the vehicle in the Colchester area, although it did not issue any parking tickets during this period.

NEPP business manager Lou Belgrove said: “The clearly branded “Park Safe” vehicle will now focus on tackling dangerous, careless, inconsiderate and negligent parking on ‘no stopping’ restrictions, including streets surrounding schools."