Vigilante actions in a north Suffolk town are doing ‘more harm than good’ in a campaign to see one hour’s free parking returned, council leaders have warned.

It follows a second incident in as many weeks where payment machines in a car park near Halesworth Thoroughfare have been vandalised so that people are unable to pay to park.

On Saturday, a glue-like substance was inserted into the coin slots in all three payment machines in the car park.

It follows a similar incident on April 28 when fake ‘out of order’ stickers were placed onto the machines.

It is thought that the vandalism is a campaign against the removal of one hour’s free parking in the town at the end of March by Waveney District Council, which claims that in 2013/14 parking revenue across the district was running at a loss of around £135,000 per year.

Discussions between Halesworth Town Council and Waveney District Council on how the cost of the one hour parking could otherwise be met are still on-going.

David Thomas, vice-chairman of the town council, has warned that the recent acts of vandalism could be harming efforts to see the free hour reinstated as it will mean figures on car park use won’t be accurate.

He said: “I don’t believe in coincidences and this is the second time this has happened. It does look as though somebody is making a point.

“Because negotiations are still on-going with Waveney council, we need proper figures so we can decide the most appropriate contribution from us.

“I can understand their frustration and why they are doing it, but it’s not helping.”

Stephen Ardley, cabinet member for operational services at Waveney District Council, said: “It would be unwise to jump to any immediate conclusions about this vandalism and whether it is linked to changes in car parking charges.

“If this is the case, it would be a pretty remarkable and senseless response, creating further costs which will need to be met from scarce council funds.

“The free first hour was a one-year trial, which actually lasted for three, and created a financial deficit which we simply could not support any longer.

“In light of this, the hostility this necessary change has encountered is extremely disappointing.”