THE first day of a £1.5 million system to help motorists beat traffic jams has been hailed a success by City of York Council.

The new high-tech Traffic Congestion Management System (TCMS) was unveiled across the city yesterday without a hitch, according to a council spokeswoman.

The system, the first of its kind in Europe, uses "variable message signs"to show up-to- the-minute information to drivers.

The first signs to go up are linked to counters in city centre car parks and tell motorists the number of spaces available.

The final two stages of the scheme will see additional counters placed at York's Park&Ride sites and a number of extra large signs on the A64, each costing £200,000, to guide motorists into the least congested areas of the city.

Coun Ann Reid, executive member for planning and transport, said the new scheme had been strongly supported by the Liberal Democrats during their time in opposition and they were delighted to see it come to fruition.

"This is something we have been pressing for a number years.

"It is an innovative scheme which we hope will cut people's journey times." Her support for the new system was echoed by Labour councillors.

Coun Tracey Simpson-Laing, spokesperson for planning and transport, said: "We welcome the fully operational status of the messaging signs and really hope this will ease congestion."

She said the initiative came from a decision by the previous Labour council, using money from central government "in recognition of our work in easing congestion".

The TCMS system is part of the council's wider Urban Traffic Management and Control solution (UTMC) which aims to cut down traffic levels and overcome some of York's highway limitations.

It is one of many transport "solutions" being pioneered by the council, which was recently awarded Local Transport Authority of the Year.

They are scheduled to be operational by the start of April 2004.

Updated: 10:12 Tuesday, July 29, 2003