Queues that have sprung up in a Marlow car park this week are due to criminals destroying one of the parking machines and stealing cash from inside, it has emerged.

Wycombe District Council said one of the two ANPR parking machines in Liston Road was attacked by thieves, who stole the cash box inside.

The machine was badly damaged, with the culprits causing thousands of pounds worth of damage at around 8pm on Sunday.

Yesterday, tempers boiled over after residents reported waiting up to half an hour to pay for parking at the council-owned car park outside Waitrose.

Council spokesman Nick Sykes said: “We are appealing to anyone who has information about this robbery to pass the details onto Thames Valley Police.

“The Council have arranged for a replacement machine to be purchased and installed, but this will take some weeks.

“There is a second machine in Liston Road car park that can be used, but we appreciate that during busy times queues will be likely. We ask car park users for their forbearance at this time.”

To beat the queues, WDC has advised motorists there are alternative to pay for parking.

Customers can either pay online up to 24 hours after leaving the car park at www.wdc.veripark.gov.uk or pay via mobile phone via RingGo on arrival into the car park.

Anyone with information on the theft should call police on 101. The crime reference number is 431 500 450 / 07.