Council car parks to go ticketless in two towns

Free parking is being offered in council car parks following the changes, in the run-up to Christmas

Pay-and-display charging is being scrapped in car parks to make way for a new set of ticketless machines, a council says.

Harborough District Council said the new system would make parking "faster, easier and more reliable" by visitors inputting their registration plates.

New machines are being rolled out in Market Harborough, with Lutterworth car parks to follow before Christmas, said the council.

The new machines allow cash, contactless and mobile payments, and prices will remain the same. Free parking is also being offered in the run-up to Christmas.

In some larger car parks, some additional contactless only machines will be installed alongside ones that accept cash.

Temporary signs will be placed in the council's car parks to explain the changes.

Council director of communities and wellbeing Cat Hartley said the upgrade "will significantly enhance the convenience and accessibility of our town centres".

With reference to the festive free parking, the council said short stay car parks would offer four hours free, while long stay parking would be free all day on 6, 13 and 20 December.

Drivers must still input their registration numbers, the council added.