More than 600 free car parking spaces are being made available to shoppers in Gloucester city centre on Thursdays up to Christmas.

King's Walk and Eastgate shopping centre car parks will be free one day a week, including Christmas Eve, thanks to funding from Gloucester Business Improvement District and Gloucester City Council in a bid to encourage shoppers into the city as shops reopen after the November lockdown.

Gloucester BID chairman Kieron Bates said: "We are finding various ways to try to balance supporting the businesses in the city centre while keeping to the very important guidelines.

"The main idea of the free parking on a Thursday in the two main city centre car parks is to help spread the time shoppers can come out and safely shop away from the traditionally busy weekends."

Local businesses need support more than ever having worked hard to create a safe environment in their shops as they reopen this week under tier two restrictions.

Councillor Dawn Melvin, cabinet member for economic Recovery and growth, said: "It's incredible news and I'm thrilled that this initiative is taking place.

"We need to do everything in our power to get people back into our city centre. Shopping local is absolutely imperative right now."

She continued: "Our retailers, many of which are small independent businesses, have had the most dreadful time since March.

"Let's show them how much they mean to us by spending our household Christmas budgets with them.

"I'm really looking forward to the Thursday late night shopping. I work such long hours and it gives me a chance to buy all my Christmas presents."