residents and visitors can enjoy free parking in the town on Saturday afternoons in December – courtesy of the town council.

It is hoped that customers and guests will be encouraged to visit the Dorset town once lockdown restrictions ease and shop at local businesses during the festive period.

This adds to the free car parking arrangements currently in place on Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons provided by BCP Council in the run up to Christmas.

Mayor of Christchurch, Cllr Lesley Dedman, said: “We really want to encourage as many people as possible to come to the town to support our brilliant traders in what has been an incredibly challenging time for all high street and town centres.

“We felt it was really important to add to the free provision by BCP, so we decided to fund the costs for parking on Saturday from 12 noon to 6pm.”

“This will give shoppers plenty of choice when planning when to do their Christmas shopping in Christchurch.”

“We would ask everyone visiting to observe the appropriate social distancing and other Covid safety measures.”

The scheme for Christchurch after the Town council’s input will look as follows:

Free town centre parking will be available in Christchurch during the week on Thursdays on December 3, 10, 17 and Christmas Eve from 4pm to 10.

Parking will also be free on the weekends leading up to Christmas, including December 5 and 6, 12 and 13 and 19 and 20, from midday to 6pm on Saturdays and 10am to 6pm on Sundays.

The Christchurch car parks which will be free to park at include Bypass near Waitrose, Bargates, The Two Riversmeet Leisure Centre, Bridge Street, Saxon Square and Christchurch Quay.

The cars parks at Christchurch Priory, Wick Lane, Bank Close, Pit Site and Mayor’s Mead are also encompassed in the scheme.

President of Christchurch Chamber of Trade and Commerce Andrew Barfield said the Chamber welcomed the Town Council initiative.

He added: “All our traders have been working extra hard to ensure their premises are safe to come to during this pandemic.

“Offering free parking on Saturday as well as Thursday and Sunday will not only increase footfall, but spread the load of shoppers, and ensure we do not have too many people in the town centre at the same time.”