Parking charges at a busy town car park are set to be waived in the hopes of helping out businesses hit by nearby road works.

Waveney District Council announced today (Wednesday, January 17) it would be making Blyburgate car park in Beccles free to use until the end of the week.

Cadent, formally known as National Grid, closed Blyburgate in order to carry out important gas connections work.

The work is scheduled to last from Monday, January 15, to Friday, January 19.

A council spokesman said: “Businesses have told Waveney District Council that they are worried about the impact on trade and therefore the decision has bee taken to create a period of free parking to encourage people in the town.”

Waveney’s cabinet member for partnerships and operations said: ““We are always determined to respond to issues raised by our communities and in this case the removal of charges in Blyburgate car park makes sense.

“Disruption such as this can have a real impact on small businesses and we want to do whatever we can to support them.”