A SCRATCHCARD-STYLE parking scheme could be extended in Winchester to help soften the blow of a parking charge hike for residents in the city.

Plans announced late last year by Winchester City Council will see the cost of parking outside homes rocket by up to 100 per cent.

The changes will mean hundreds of city households will end up paying £170 for four residents' parking permits, up from the current price of £90.

Thousands of other residents with two permits will also see their bills rise by more than 100 per cent, from £30 to £70.

Now the city council's ruling Cabinet will consider a less costly alternative for people who only used their third or fourth permits occasionally.

The plan is to allow residents to use the extra permits as and when they need them by buying a book of up to 20 scratchcards that can be used on any day.

Currently books are issued but have to be used on an allotted day.

Up to 20 daily scratchcards per household per year would be allowed under the new scheme, at a cost of £20.

Richard Knasel, Cabinet portfolio holder for economy and transport, said there had been little take-up of the current scratchcards.

He added: "The new system will give householders greater flexibility in the use of scratchcards instead of having to apply for a specific day. This would enable residents who only have a small number of visitors to have a viable alternative."

There are currently about 3,000 residents' permits and 4,750 visitors' permits.