This technology is attached to the side of the parking ticket machines and on purchasing a ticket the customer simply places their hands under the unit, triggering a sensor, which automatically dispenses sanitising gel. No touch is required minimising the risk of coronavirus transmission. The machine will only work when a ticket is purchased.

Additionally, the machines levels are monitored remotely enabling timely refills so they should not ever run out.

These hand sanitisers will be available in Car Haven, Riverside, Bishops Road and Wellington Street.

Cllr Marco Cereste, Cabinet member for street scene at Peterborough City Council said: “We are committed to helping our residents stay safe and prevent the spread of the virus and look for every opportunity to keep doing this. This is great technology to adopt and it will become second nature for all of us to sanitise our hands when we come into our city to park.

“We want to make it easy for people to slow the virus down and ensure they feel safe when they come into our city centre and this is one such step that will help with this. It is great we have adopted this technology first; another example of Peterborough leading the field.”