Drivers have resorted to leaving their parking payment with an angry note on their car dashboards because Greenwich parking meters don’t accept the new pound coins.

Of the 133 parking meters in the borough, 61 won’t accept the new pound coins until they have been upgraded in October.

The new 12-sided £1 coin was introduced into circulation earlier this year on March 28 but a number of the machines still aren’t upgraded.

Speaking at Greenwich Council meeting, Councillor Matt Hartley said: “We’ve all been there when you’re parking and you’re in a rush and the only coin you have is an old one pound coin and you can’t use it.

“Many residents are leaving angry notes on their dashboards with the new one pound coin as proof that they tried to pay for their parking but could not.”

Councillor Sizwe James, cabinet member for transport, economy and smart cities, said: “The council has pay and display machines from two different suppliers.

“Changes to the machine to accommodate the new coin involve software changes as well as changes to the machine mechanisms and so need to be made by those suppliers.

“One supplier has changed all the machines and we are working with the other supplier to effect the changes in the next two months.

“In the meantime, officers are arranging for warning notices to be affixed to those machines that are not capable of taking the new coin.

“The first stickers will be in place very shortly and the process is to be completed before the end of this month.”