Mechanism for actuating a vehicle parking brake

An actuating mechanism for a vehicle parking brake, comprising fixed mounting means for mounting the mechanism in a vehicle, an actuator which is pivotally mounted on the mounting means for movement relative thereto between a first and a second position, an elongate output member for connection to a vehicle parking brake, the elongate output member being slidably mounted in the mounting means and arranged to move in a brake-applying direction frown a brake-off to a brake-on position when the actuator moves from its first position to its second position, a driver which is uncoupled from the output member when the actuator is in the first position, which releasably couples the actuator to the output member during movement of the actuator from its first to its second position, and which uncouples the output member as the actuator is returned in the opposite direction from its second to its first position, a releasable holder which restrains the output member against reverse movement from its brake-on to its brake-off position during movement of the actuator in the said opposite direction, and a release means for the releasable holder for disengaging the holder from the output member.