HIGHWAYS officers have promised to crack down on illegal parking and rat-running on a busy Sutton Coldfield shopping parade.

It comes after complaints were made about cars cutting out traffic lights and parking on grass verges at the Beeches Walk parade in the town centre.

The issue was raised as the council’s planning committee gave the go ahead to a new Persian Bar and Restaurant in the parade.

Coun Maureen Cornish (Con, Four Oaks) said: “I have real concerns about the lack of parking here. Businesses rely on that service road.”