A biker has dubbed the replacement of parking bays with the UK's first environmentally friendly dry cleaning machine as "daft".

On October 6 large metal boxes were installed in the car park of Epping Underground Station.

Built by company VClean, commuters with dirty washing are urged to drop clothes into the machines and collect them 24 hours later, at the cost of £3 an item.

Because they do not use chemicals, they are deemed more environmentally friendly.

One man who has not welcomed this particular part of the green revolution is Stephen Isherwood, who regularly bikes from his home in Harlow to the station.

He said: "I noticed what had happened a couple of weeks ago.

"There used to be an area by the wall, probably about 16' by 10', where you could park 10 or 12 bikes.

"Now they have removed the bike bays and replaced them with the dry cleaning machine.

"It seems daft. You can still find a space, but you need to stick it on double yellow lines or between cars.

"We paid to park there. It makes no sense at all."

Mr Isherwood said he does not know of anywhere else to park his bike in Epping, and expressed confusion as to why a town with three dry cleaners on the high street needed an automated service.

A spokesperson for Transport For London said alternate motorbike bays would be installed "shortly", but did not clarify where or whether they would replace other parking spaces.

Following the installation of the VClean machines, others are planned for North Greenwich, Loughton, South Woodford and Woodford stations.