Car park pay machines refuses Scottish five pound notes

New pay machines at a council-run car park fail to recognise some Scottish £5 notes but do accept English ones, it has emerged.

Highland Council confirmed there was a problem with the machines at the refurbished Rose Street car park in Inverness.

A spokesman said most Scottish notes were accepted, but the software could not read certain £5 notes.

However, there is no issue with Bank of England notes.

The spokesman added that the matter had been raised with the machines' supplier.

Car park staff have also been given a float so customers can swap Scottish £5 notes for Bank of England ones.

The new pay on exit system was introduced last Tuesday.

It replaced pay and display at the car park and the council had hoped it would give more flexibility in the site's charging regime.

The system marked the latest investment made by the local authority to modernise and upgrade the Old Town multi-storey car park.