Tourism in Northumberland has been handed a boost after plans to allow motorhomes to park in car parks in three of the county's most popular coastal destinations were approved by councillors.
At Tuesday's meeting of Northumberland County Council's strategic planning committee, councillors voted to allow a one-year trial of the policy at car parks in Beadnell, Bamburgh and Amble.
The plans were voted through with no objectors, although one member - Cllr Georgina Hill - abstained from each vote.
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Under the proposals, self-contained motorhomes - those with their own toilets and wash basins - will be allowed to pay an as-yet undecided fee to stay in the existing car parks.
The car parks in question are at Benthall in Beadnell next to the beach, Amble Braid Car Park and the car park opposite Bamburgh Castle.
It follows anecdotes of some travellers bypassing Northumberland due to a lack of places to stay for a single night, instead choosing to continue on to Scotland.
Speaking in support of the application, Cllr Richard Dodd said: "I think we've all seen the extra motorhomes travelling on our roads in the last couple of years.
"We cannot ignore this. The coast has become very very popular. On Sunday the beach at Blyth was rammed, I went down to Tynemouth and everywhere was rammed. That's on January 30, imagine what it's going to be like on June 30.
"I think we cannot ignore this, we have to be positive. It seems as if it is going to be the future in the UK for a good while, lets grasp this and make sure we do the right things and get some money in the tills."
Other members were also supportive, but argued the policing of the scheme would be vital to ensure the success.
Cllr Caroline Ball said: "I don't want to see the car parks chocker-block with motorhomes but on the other hand we have the need.
"I have a little bit of concern about the policing of this. If there is no enforcement people will just park there."
Members were assured that holiday-makers would have to book in advance and could face fines if they do not adhere to the rules.
Only a small number of spaces in each car park will be allocated to overnight stays.
It was also pointed out that a similar arrangement is in operation in a number of other local authorities as well as in continental Europe.
The committee's chairman, Cllr Trevor Thorne, said the county would be missing out if the trial was not approved.
He said: "I think these motorhomes are part of the tourism of the future. Tourism is so important to Northumberland, we don't want to miss out. We want our share."
There will be eight spaces in Beadnell and six spaces in the other two locations.
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