WORCESTER MP Mike Foster has lambasted the local authority for increasing prices at 12 city car parks from the autumn.

He has launched a blistering attack on the leader of Worcester City Council, Councillor Simon Geraghty, by accusing him of "being economical" with the truth in saying the price rises were broadly in line with inflation.

Mr Foster said: "Either Coun Geraghty made a schoolboy error in his maths or he is being economical with the truth. Car park charges have gone up by at least twice the rate of inflation and in some cases 20 times the rate. Why can't he just admit it?"

Mr Foster said his postbag was full of people complaining about nuisance parking in the city centre and accused the council of "driving people away" from car parks and into residential streets around Diglis, Battenhall and Barbourne.

As reported in the Worcester News on Friday, the city council has approved plans to raise fees at 12 sites in order to generate an extra £160,000.

The biggest increases are for five-hour stays at Cattle Market, King Street, Newport Street, Claire Street, Commandery House and Orchard House car parks, which will increase by 50p to £4.

Other increases range from 10p to 30p depending on the time, which also affects Pitchcroft and the Moors, St Martin's Gate, Croft Road, Tallow Hill, Tybridge Street and Swanpool Walk.

But Coun Geraghty said: "To be frank, the price rises this year are modest in comparison with previous years.

"I genuinely believe the figures are reasonable, and if you look at some of the car parks closest to the city centre, they have been held, so in real terms the prices with those have fallen.

"You have to remember who we are competing with - the likes of Merry Hill and the Bull Ring, Birmingham."