A council has agreed to give shoppers free parking on selected days in the run-up to Christmas.

Melton Borough Council has approved a proposal by Melton Town Centre Partnership to not charge festive shoppers to park in the town on Fridays leading up to the big day, or on Christmas Eve.

The move is a bid to boost trade.

The town's three, long stay car parks, in Nottingham Road, Thorpe End and Scalford Road, will be free on the four Fridays leading up to Christmas, starting on November 28, for the Christmas lights switch-on. It will also be free at those car parks on Christmas Eve for the street market.

The free parking will cost the council £1,000 in lost revenue.

Members of the council's policy, finance and administration committee, which made the decision, decided against an alternative proposal for free parking in all the town centre short stay car parks on the same days as this would have cost more than £10,000 in lost income.

Town centre manager Lisa Hammond said: "It's brilliant. It shows the council appreciates the need to try and increase retail spending in the town and it shows its commitment to it."