One parking meter in Ford Street was ripped out of the ground in the early hours of Thursday morning and dumped in a nearby garden, while the screens on three meters in Ovens Street were smashed.

Wangaratta Council reported the damage to police, who requested CCTV footage from nearby shops.

The four affected parking meters were expected to take at least two weeks to repair. 

No money was taken from the Ford Street meter.

Motorists will have free parking in these sections, but council staff will still monitor the one and two-hour parking limits.