That'll do nicely - credit cards can now be used to pay fines at magistrates courts in York and North Yorkshire.

Even people convicted of credit card fraud will be able to use the scheme - but speeding motorists will not.

Up to now guilty parties have had to hand over hard cash or use a bank standing order to meet their court bills.

But North Yorkshire Magistrates Courts Committee has agreed its staff can now accept payments by credit or debit card, a move affecting all the county's courts, including York, Selby and Pickering magistrates courts.

These up-to-date methods can meet traditional punishments such as fines, compensation orders and court costs.

But modern punishments such as fixed penalty ticket fees and parking tickets will still have to be paid for the old-fashioned way - with hard cash.

The motoring bills are on a separate computer system - which does not acknowledge payments on credit.

The committee has set up security checks to ensure that those ordered to pay fines do not use the new system to evade their responsibilities.

Updated: 12:29 Thursday, February 08, 2001