SHOPPERS can stay free for up to two hours in Clitheroe and Longridge’s short-stay town centre car parks.

The concession is part of Ribble Valley Council's bid to boost the borough's recovery from the coronavirus lockdown.

Changes to the centre of Clitheroe outlined in the #LoveRibbleValley campaign which includes the temporary pedestrianisation of Castle Street in Clitheroe and a partial one-way system in Berry Lane, Longridge have also been tweaked.

Now a disabled parking bay has been reopened at the top of Moor Lane in Clitheroe and the bus stop in Market Place reinstated.

Ribble Valley Council leader Cllr Stephen Atkinson said: “We have some of the best independent shops in Lancashire and the message is that we are pleased to reopen, but are doing so safely by creating pedestrianised areas during the main shopping hours to widen footways and enable social distancing.

“Retailers requested the free parking to help them and we were delighted to help."