Motorbike-riding parking wardens will be patrolling car parks at supermarket giant Sainsbury's, in a bid to calm exasperated parents and disabled customers.
The supermarket says that its priority parking spaces - which are wider than standard bays and are provided near the stores' entrances for customers who need them - are consistently being grabbed by other motorists.
By introducing wardens at 400 of its stores, it hopes to keep the spaces free for their intended users.
Manager of Sainsbury's car-parks, Gavin Clarke, said: "The vast majority of those who shouldn't be parking in these bays think that because they are just popping in for a few things they won't cause any inconvenience to the people who really need them. But they do."
The motorised monitors will be able to quickly negotiate the supermarkets' priority parking areas, deterring would-be rule-breakers and promptly punishing offenders.
The wardens will be issuing on-the-spot fines of £50, which will be donated to charity Mencap.
"We've tried gentle persuasion," Clarke explained, "but 'monitors-on-motorbikes' is the first scheme that's produced serious results."
