There is currently a scam involving Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs), Stevenage and North Herts councils are warning.

Stevenage Borough Council says it has received a number of reports involving residents in the town.

"The residents received a text to say that they had been issued a penalty charge notice in Stevenage," a spokesperson said. "Please note that we only issue physical tickets that are left on the vehicle.

"When the resident clicked on the link in the text the first time, it gave them a PCN reference number, and then when they clicked another time it gave them a different PCN number. The text is demanding £20 to be paid.

"Stevenage Borough Council does not make contact by text, phone or email regarding the payment of parking fines. We only send official letters.

"If you receive any type of demand, other than an official letter, about a parking charge, do not agree to pay, do not contact them or click on any links. It is almost certainly a scam.

"Please report any suspicious contact about PCNs or anything else you believe to be a scam to the police."

North Herts Council (NHC) says it is aware of a similar scam, with the bogus text messages suggesting recipients will be prosecuted if they don't pay the charge.

A spokesperson for NHC said: "This is a scam - we never send texts containing a link to pay a PCN.

"Please ignore these texts and do not click on the link to make a payment.

"You will only receive a PCN as a physical ticket on your vehicle, or handed to the driver by a civil enforcement officer."

To report a scam text message, visit ncsc.gov.uk/collection/phishing-scams/report-scam-text-message.