Shoppers face widespread confusion over car parking charges in parts of the Black Country and Staffordshire on Boxing Day, the AA warned today.

Bargain hunters in Wolverhampton and Walsall will be able to park for free, but shoppers in Dudley, Sandwell and Staffordshire will have to cough up. On-street parking restrictions and charges in council car parks are usually lifted on December 26. However, this year Boxing Day falls on a Saturday and so it is not an official bank holiday.

AA spokesman Paul Watters said: “There will be penalty notices handed out to some people which will come as a surprise.

“We hope councils in the West Midlands that do impose charges will let people know that these restrictions apply.”

People heading into Wolverhampton for the sales will not be asked to fork out for parking after the council declared it was a public holiday.

Wolverhampton City Council spokesman Gurdip Thandi said today: “As December 26 is registered as a public holiday, the car parks will therefore be free of charge.

“The Civic Centre car park will be closed on Boxing Day but every other car park with access will be free.”

The same applies in Walsall where all 18 council owned car parks have been free of charge since December 17.

However, in Dudley normal parking enforcement will be in place and in Sandwell traffic officers will be out in force.

In Stafford, bargain hunters will have to pay to park.

In Cannock, the council will also enforce parking charges. But it will be free parking on Monday, December 28, as it is a bank holiday, a council spokesman said.