Motorists, often punished at the petrol pump and Parking meter with high costs, have had their load lightened with a new flat-rate all day parking charge of just £2.50.

The bad news is that it's only been introduced in Worthing.

Parking firm NCP, the UK’s largest car parking company, has announced the introduction of the new all-day tariff at its Broadwater Bridge car park in the town.

According to NCP the move follows a period of listening to drivers who use the car park.

Brian Puddephatt-Jones, from NCP, said: “I am constantly listening to feedback from the community. What I’m hearing is the need for cost effective all day parking options very close to the town centre and station for regular users.

“Having entered into a new lease at this site I can now offer this reduced rate and hope both visitors and town trade will benefit from another NCP tariff reduction in Worthing.”

The company has said the rate, which is a reduction from £4, was to encourage long-term parking at the site for train commuters.

This will hopefully free up space at its two other car parks in Union Place and Montague Street for short-term parking.

Paul Yallop, leader of Worthing Borough Council, said: “I am always very pleased when the motorists in Worthing are betting a better deal in car parking.

“I never complain when prices come down.”

While motorists can now enjoy cheap all-day parking in Worthing drivers in others parts of Sussex are not so lucky.

In Brighton and Hove, where the council ditched NCP to bring its car park management in-house, the cheapest council-run car park is Norton Road, in Hove with a £6 charge for 12 hours.

For the other 12 hours parking charges do not apply.

The NCP-operated North Street car park has a £16 charge for 24 hours while Churchill Square has an eye-watering £25 charge.

In Eastbourne, the NCP at Trinity Place costs £3.50 for 24 hours.

A spokeswoman for the company said it was always listening to feedback from motorists about car parking charges and is always reviewing its pricing.