CHRISTMAS shoppers coming to Basingstoke will get an early Christmas gift after Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council announced that it will offer free and reduced rate parking in the town centre.

To kick off the festive season, there will be free parking in the council-run town centre car parks – Central car park, Jacobs Yard, Joices Yard, Albert Yard, Castons Yard and the car park in Southern Road – from 3pm on Friday, December 5 for those arriving for the Top of The Town Christmas event.

The free parking supports the event, which runs from 5pm to 8pm, with late night shopping, an eco-Santa’s grotto, real reindeer, children’s workshops and feasting, as well as a Christmas trail and a programme of free entertainment for all the family to enjoy.

This will be followed by three hours of free parking all through the day on Saturday, December 6 in the same car parks for those who want to do more Christmas shopping.

Two car parks at the civic offices – Eastlands and Parklands – will be used as this year’s weekend-only extra Christmas parking.

These car parks will be free on Saturday, November 29 and Sunday, November 30.

After that, they will be open every weekend in December and the first weekend in January with reduced Christmas parking charges of £2.50 for up to four hours and £3 all day.

The borough council’s Cabinet member for partnerships, Councillor Cathy Osselton, said: “We have already introduced free parking for the first half hour in council-owned short stay car parks in the town centre to attract “nip in” shoppers.

“Now we are offering free parking during the Christmas event on Friday, December 5 to encourage even more people to discover the Top of The Town.

"I hope that the additional parking around the town centre will make things easier for Christmas shoppers and be an extra boost for our traders and small businesses.”