Pay on exit car parking - which traders hope will encourage shoppers to linger in Kendal - should be available in the town this summer.

The system could be up-and-running at the 720-space Westmorland Shopping Centre car park by the end of June.

South Lakeland District Council's parking projects manager Phil Turner said that, following approval from members of the cabinet, the scheme could be put in through April, May and June, and be commissioned and operational by the end of June.

The timetable had slipped, he said.

"We have had some difficulties with the tendering process, which has delayed us slightly, but that seems to be all resolved now and we have got prices which are going to our cabinet to make a decision on how we proceed with it," he said.

Pay on exit works through the car driver taking a ticket from a machine and parking.

When he returns, he puts the ticket into a machine, which charges him according to how long a vehicle has been parked.

After paying, the motorist has ten minutes to return to the vehicle and leave the car park.

Mr Turner said that drivers would pay for what they used, rather than having excess hours on a ticket, or being forced to rush back.

"From the traders' point of view that's certainly why they are keen on it - if people decide to do a bit more shopping or decide to do something else, and hopefully spend their money here rather than elsewhere," he said.

Pay on exit would also provide SLDC with data about parking habits, helping it to manage the car park.