The December dates on which people will be allowed to park for free in Biddulph have been confirmed.

The district council offers five days of free parking a year in its off-street car parks, and the town councils in Biddulph, Cheadle and Leek decide when they want to use them to support events and key activities in the towns.

The town councils have decided to use some of these days in the build-up to Christmas, with the aim of making it easier for local people to do their Christmas shopping and support local high streets.

Biddulph town and district councillor Jill Salt confirmed that Biddulph has allocated its free parking days as follows: Friday 11th, Saturday 12th, Friday 18th, Saturday 19th and Thursday 24th December. Drivers won't need to display a ticket on these dates.

Cheadle and Leek Town Councils have also decided to use some of these days in the build-up to Christmas and parking will be free on Saturdays 5th, 12th and 19th December in those two towns.

Councillor Sybil Ralphs, Leader of the District Council and Cabinet Member for Regeneration, said: "December Saturdays are always key calendar dates for local shops and business but this year they have taken on an extra significance as we come out of the second national Covid lockdown.

"It's a welcome boost to our town centres that non-essential shops and services can now re-open so people can shop locally for their seasonal gifts and treats and we're encouraging everyone to take advantage of that.

"It will really make a difference to our local economy and show our hard-working, resilient businesses how much we appreciate the efforts they've made to re-open safely.

"We're delighted to be able to support shoppers and traders by offering free parking and we're looking forward to welcoming people back to our high streets in the busy build-up to the big day.

"But Covid has not gone away and we all need to remain vigilant so please remember to wear a face covering and stay apart from others when shopping - let's look after each other this Christmas."