WINCHESTER health staff have voted with their car keys to snub the start of an ambitious attempt to solve the city hospital's parking crisis.

Health managers are offering free parking to 100 staff one day a week at the city's park-and-ride site at Bar End. They hope it will reduce congestion at the traffic-clogged Royal Hampshire County Hospital.

However, fewer than ten health workers took up the offer when it began on Monday

John Jacobs, trust travel plan manager, said: "It's a real pity that the response has been so poor. Staff need to realise that there isn't going to be an easy solution to the parking problems.

"This offer provides an opportunity to try park-and-ride and enjoy a door-to-door service. We want more staff to come forward and give it a go.

"It will take time for staff to change their travelling habits. But this is part of a long term campaign to find an alternative to using the car, for at least part of the working week."

It is one of several initiatives by the trust to tackle parking problems. Others include guaranteeing parking spaces to car sharers and increasing charges.

A spokesman declined to say how much the scheme was costing except to say the trust had negotiated a competitive deal.