Preston City Council offers free car parking in city centre to help businesses and essential shopping trips

People who are shopping for essentials will be able to park for free for one hour in the city centre to help businesses and essential trips in Preston.

The scheme will start ​from Saturday, May 9 for a period of four weeks.

A spokesperson for Preston City Council said: "During these unprecedented times, it’s important we do all we can to help support residents and businesses in the city centre."

The offer will be available at Avenham multi-storey car park and on the Tenterfield Street short stay car park.

Councillor Matthew Brown, Leader at Preston City Council, said: "We’re pleased to announce this decision and hope the offer of free parking will be welcomed by residents and the business community to help at such a difficult and worrying time for many.

"People need to visit the city centre for essential shopping and we hope this helps in some way, but would remind everyone to follow the current social distancing guidelines and stay 2 metres apart. As an authority the safety of the public will remain our primary concern."

What is the government guidance on social distancing?

You should only leave the house for very limited purposes:

- shopping for basic necessities, for example food and medicine, which must be as infrequent as possible

- one form of exercise a day, for example a run, walk, or cycle - alone or with members of your household

- any medical need, including to donate blood, avoid or escape risk of injury or harm, or to provide care or to help a vulnerable person

- travelling for work purposes, but only where you cannot work from home