NEW car parking measures come into force in Christchurch from Sunday.

The change in tariff structure will see parking limited to four hours in some of the town's busiest car parks - Saxon Square, Bank Close, Wick Lane and the By-Pass.

Notices have been put up in car parks by Christchurch Borough Council to warn motorists of the alterations.

Fees across the car parks have been frozen for the year and the winter charge at Steamer Point, Avon Run Road and Highcliffe Castle Car facilities.

Lindsay Cass, Christchurch Borough Council's head of property and engineering, said:“The town centre parking working party has concluded that it would be more beneficial for local businesses if the busiest town centre car parks in Christchurch had a maximum daytime stay of four hours.

“Only two per cent of parking tickets sold in these town centre car parks are for durations of over four hours. People wishing to park their cars for more than four hours near the town centre would still be able to use Bargates, Bridge Street, Christchurch Quay, Leisure Centre, Mayor’s Mead, Pit Site, Priory and Willow Way car parks.”