A LEADING Kidderminster supermarket is replacing its much-criticised car park barrier with a state-of-the-art number plate recognition system.

Tesco, in Weavers Wharf, is investing in the hi-tech equipment to give customers a better deal, after floods of complaints about the barrier.

Under the new system, which goes live on Friday, April 21, the current requirement to spend at least £3 in the store will be dropped, enabling anyone to park there free for two hours.

The penalty for staying longer, however, will be a £70 fine, sent through the post, with the threat of bailiffs if not paid, although first offenders will be let off with a warning letter.

Vehicle number plates will be scanned on the way in and out of the car park and the registered owners tracked down through DVLA lists.

Store manager, Grant Marshall, said the revolutionary system had proved extremely popular in other Tesco stores, resulting in a massive 95 per cent drop in car park abuse.

The barrier system, which has been in place since the Tesco superstore opened four years ago, had been plagued with difficulties.

It has been prone to frequent breakdowns and has been repeatedly driven into by customers, both inadvertently and sometimes in anger.

Mr Marshall said the problems with the barrier had led to a lot of abuse of the car park and even office workers parking there all day, which meant customers had difficulty finding spaces at busy times.

Experience elsewhere has proved that the hi-tech enforcement of the two-hour stay rule increases the turnaround of car parking spaces, making customer parking easier.

"It has been found that 75 per cent of customers recognise the system as the best thing that Tesco has done for them.

"Genuine customers will appreciate it. Of course, some people will be put out but they are abusing the car park to the detriment of our customers," added Mr Marshall, who became store manager just six months ago.

Information about the new system will be distributed in the store to ensure customers understand the changes before they are introduced.