Work on Gloucester's King's Walk regeneration is now underway, starting with improvement works to King's Walk car park.

A 22-week programme to increase the number of parking spaces to 263, improve stair and lift access and provide new public toilets on the first floor has now begun.

Due to the improvement programme, which has started with cleaning, draining and preparation for re-surfacing, there will be phased temporary closures on different levels of the car park.

The work is being done in phases to minimise disruption and, although the number of spaces will be limited while this is carried out, the aim is to keep the car park accessible for as long as possible.

The first phase of works means that from today, levels 4, 5 and 6 are closed. They are expected to re-open on 16th August. During this time, there will be no access to Gloucester Guildhall via level 4. There will still be 168 parking spaces available across other levels.

Other levels will close and re-open as follows:

* Level 3 will be closed from 19th August until 6th September, with 168 car park spaces open for use;

* Levels 1 and 2 will be closed from 9th September until 4th October, with 193 car park spaces open for use.

The whole car park will be fully closed for four weeks between 7th October and 8th November, to allow for work on the car park entrance, ramps, installation of new signage and a new car park façade.

Alternative car parking is available at Bruton Way NCP car park, as well as Gloucester City Council-run car parks at Eastgate Centre Rooftop and Station Road.

The refurbishment, which will mean creating 13 new parking spaces, is part of the wider transformation of King's Walk shopping centre by Reef Group, Gloucester City Council partners and asset managers. It also includes new and remodelled shop fronts and the upgrading of Eastgate Street.