Drivers who park illegally in two towns will have to watch out as traffic wardens could soon be patrolling the streets.

Sussex Police is considering appointing a temporary traffic warden for Burgess Hill and Haywards Heath.

Officers are in talks with West Sussex County Council and Mid Sussex District Council about ways to combat increasing problems with Parking in the towns.

It is hoped the traffic wardens could be on the streets in the next few months, ahead of new laws in April 2004, which will transfer the power to fine parking cheats from the police to the district council.

Chief Inspector Sam Coates, district commander for the Mid Sussex area, said: "It is a tentative arrangement. We are speaking to the county and district council about what arrangements we could make for a temporary traffic warden to be shared between the two towns.

"We need to discuss what is feasible in the time remaining and how it is going to be paid for."

Chief Inspector Coates said the public's attitude to illegal parking in areas such as Church Road, Burgess Hill, needed to change.

She said: "People need to realise that by parking on single yellow lines to just pop into the shops, they are adding to the problem."

Parking tickets are currently issued by officers, with money from fines going straight to central Government. Next April Mid Sussex District Council can take responsibility for on street parking.

A representative of the district council said: "Whatever scheme we decide to adopt in April will need to be self-financing and will take a while to implement.

"But the public have made us aware they want something to happen in the near future. We are discussing the issue and hope to have a temporary traffic warden in the next few months."