Christmas shoppers can benefit from the free parking on Saturday 17th December and on Christmas Eve, Saturday 24th December, providing an ideal opportunity to shop locally for those last minute present shopping and buying festive treats and nibbles.

The council's offer of free parking on the two Saturdays before Christmas for the next two years is designed to support local businesses who are struggling with the current economic hard times. 

Leader of the council, Mark Crane said, "We hope that this will be a real boost for local businesses in the run-up to Christmas...

Our district has a lot to offer shoppers including a wide range of small independent shops alongside the bigger stores.  We want to bring visitors into the area and encourage residents to shop local too."

The decision to waive parking charges for festive shoppers was welcomed by struggling local business owners who earlier this year criticised Crane's administration following this summer's decision to hike charges by 15%.