CAR parking in town centre is to become free after 3pm to boost the shopping area.

Burnley Council is introducing the scheme next month in a bid to help businesses recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

It will apply all of its 16 short-stay pay and display car parks with 1,059 spaces in Burnley town centre on every day of the week.

The 'Free after 3' concession which starts on April 12 when non essential shops are scheduled to re-open.

It will run seven days a week for three months before being reviewed with a view to extending it.

Charges will still apply at other times of the day and on other council-run car parks elsewhere in the borough.

The proposal has been welcomed by the Burnley Business Improvement District.

Council leader Cllr Mark Townsend said: "The Government’s roadmap out of Covid restrictions means that April 12 will see non-essential shops and gyms re-open and other restrictions lifted.

“We want to get as many people as possible coming to Burnley town centre but always with a careful eye on staying Covid safe.

“Offering free parking after 3pm will encourage shoppers to come into town from mid-afternoon onwards, to help extend shopping over the whole day and spread visits over a longer part of the day.”

Cllr Asif Raja, borough growth boss, said: "This is great news for shoppers and local businesses alike.

"The town centre gets quieter from mid-afternoon onwards.

"Offering free parking after 3pm is an incentive for people to come in that bit later, avoiding the peak times around lunchtime."

Cllr Gordon Birtwistle, leader of the council Liberal Democrat group, said: "I think this is a very positive move.

"There are a lot of shops in Burnley town centre closed that I fear will never reopen."

His Conservative counterpart Alan Hosker said: "My view is that all council car parks in Burnley and Padiham town centres should be completely free for 12 months to help shopkeepers rebuild after Covid."