A temporary tariff of £2 per day will be introduced at Sidmouth’s town centre car parks next week.

East Devon District Council (EDDC) operated facilities, including Manor Road, Mill Street, the Ham and Roxburgh will benefit from the concession, which begins on Tuesday (December 1).

The authority hopes the reduced rate will support shops over Christmas, and also boost trade during the traditionally quieter months of January and February.

The parking concession is available after 10am in all 39 of EDDC’s pay and display car parks.

In addition, anyone buying a £2 ticket after 10am will be able to use the same ticket to park in any other EDDC-run car park for the remainder of that day.

The concession rate will end at the end of February.

Councillor Iain Chubb, EDDC’s environment boss, said: “We understand that our local business communities are competing during the festive season with big city shops and online retailers which is why we are introducing this parking concession.

“This is the second year that the concession has been extended to three months and that’s because it proved so popular with our customers last year and we want to thank them for shopping in East Devon.

“We do all we can to help our traders and the Chambers of Commerce, particularly at this time of year.

“For some of our businesses, the Christmas season is when they make enough money to keep them afloat during the quieter months of January and February so this initiative will be a welcome boost for them.”