Old £1 coins are no longer being accepted in East Devon District Council’s (EDDC) car parks.

The council has confirmed that with the old round pounds no longer legal tender after October 15, all its pay and display ticket machines now only accept the new 12-sided coins.

The council says it prepared for the change by spending £5,900 on new coin mechanisms when the new coins were first introduced in March, but calibrated its machines to accept both coins until October.

Councillor Tom Wright said: “The £1 coin is by far and away the most popular coin used by our customers and I am delighted to say that our staff planned ahead and offered a seamless six-month transition period between the old and new coins.

“The new coin is welcome because of the number of counterfeit old coins that were in circulation and while £5,900 was a significant investment, it was a necessary business decision.”