A DISC parking system could be introduced to the Borders in a bid to end congestion chaos around town centres.

Since Police Scotland withdrew traffic wardens in February, 2014, a lack of enforcement has led to a free-for-all on streets all over the region.

A working group was set up at Scottish Borders Council last summer to look into decriminalising street parking.

But the scheme requires the backing from Scottish Ministers and it is expected to run at a financial loss.

Brian Young, network manager at the local authority, said: "The main decision to be made is whether to accept the current situation of limited control and enforcement through Police Scotland, or to seek to introduce council controlled Decriminalised Parking Enforcement.

"If decriminalisation was introduced by the council it wouldn't mean installing a lot of meters, it just means ensuring there is a quick turnaround of parking spaces.

"The working group has favoured the disc system which used in places like Berwick but this would need to be passed by the full council."

Over the past 18 months, stretched local police officers have issued a total of 230 tickets across the entire Borders and a further 152 formal warnings.

But illegal parking in town centres has still become one of the region's biggest headaches.

Councillor Alec Nichol, who represents Kelso, said: "Parking in Kelso is like the Wild West.

"The police presence is sporadic at best.

"I am sure I speak for many when I say that I can't wait for decriminalisation to be introduced."

A Decriminalised Parking Enforcement scheme allows council wardens to issue tickets as they currently do in pay and display car parks.

But for a DPE scheme to be backed by Holyrood, council officials must provide a solid business case to prove that it will be financially viable.

Hans Waltl, from the Federation of Small Businesses, believes enforcement is required now. He said: "The situation is untenable at the moment.

"People park their cars in shopping areas and go off to work.

"The half-hour parking on Channel Street in Galashiels worked well but now cars are left there all day."

Current legislation prevents a police officer slapping a ticket onto a windscreen unless it is causing an obstruction or the officer has observed the illegal parking for ten minutes.

Chief Inspector Andy McLean told last Friday's meeting of the Safer Communities Board that the problem wasn't being ignored. He said: "Our officers are always out with ticket books in their back pockets.

"We have carried out enforcement in every town, and every time we do we get complaints from shopkeepers, locals and visitors."

Proposals outlining a planned DPE scheme will go before a full meeting of Scottish Borders Council early in the new year.