Parking charges in Cannock are to be scrapped in the run-up to Christmas to help boost trade in the town.

Cannock Chase Council is to suspend charges on all of its car parks on the two Saturdays before Christmas, December 12 and 19.

In 2008, drivers were charged the minimum rate for council car parks and allowed to park for the whole day.

This year, the council has gone further and decided to drop the charges altogether.

Councillor Tony Williams, Cannock Chase Council environmental sustainability leader, said: “We did consider a minimum charge again but, in light of the recession, we wanted to do all we could to help traders by encouraging shoppers into our town centres.”

President of Cannock Chase Chamber of Commerce Fred Pritchard welcomed the news.

He pledged to match the council’s gesture at Pritchard Group’s High Green car park in the town centre.