Bomb-proof parking meters could be installed in a town to stop them being blown up by vandals.

And parking charges could be raised to meet the cost of repairs in Lewes.

East Sussex County Council has been in discussion with manufacturers of reinforced steel to look at designing bespoke meters for the town.

It is one of several ideas being considered to end a campaign against the machines in the town centre.

There have been almost 200 attacks on parking meters in Lewes since they were installed two years ago, with more than 30 damaged beyond repair.

The cost of the damage, which has included graffiti and scratches as well as explosions, is more than £300,000.

Now the council is hitting back.

A spokesman said: "This is very early stages but we are looking into it. There have been discussions with manufacturers but no decisions have yet been made.

"We might have to consider putting up prices to cover this senseless vandalism. The scheme is required by law to be self-financing so there is no alternative other than to recover the cost of the damage through charges paid by law-abiding motorists."

Councillor Ruth O'Keeffe has said money that would have paid for improvements to transport schemes is now spent replacing the meters.

The council is looking at several modifications to machines and other security measures.

The council spokesman said it was also planning to introduce cashless payment systems.

He said the council was considering contingency plans such as blocking up coin return slots to prevent explosives being put inside but the council was reluctant to go ahead as "it would inconvenience some motorists".

Two weeks ago The Argus reported thieves had torn out a Lewes parking machine with a car and a tow rope and stolen £150.

It came after a series of vandal attacks stretching back to October 2004, when the machines were first introduced.

Three meters have been destroyed by fireworks this year, bringing the total to 35 out of 185 separate attacks.

As well as explosions, glue has been poured into coin slots.

The attacks are believed to be in protest against the council's controlled parking scheme.

A reward of £5,000 has been offered by East Sussex County Council and Lewes District Council for information that leads to a conviction.

Coun O'Keeffe said the attacks were linked to a tradition of dissent in the town.

She said: "Lewes has a large number of people who are wellorganised, intelligent and dislike being told what to do and if you add that to the high number of people who have a lot of skill with small explosives then this is the effect."

  • Anyone with information about the attacks should call police on 0845 6070999.