Christmas shoppers are in for a boost after Wellington Town Council agreed to pay for free car parking on busy Saturdays in the lead-up to the festive season.

The town council will pay Somerset Council – which owns car parks – a fee of nearly £4,400 for free parking at the North Street, South Street and Longforth Road Car Parks on December 5, December 12 and December 19.

The town council will also pay Somerset Council £1,404 for free car parking on November 28 – the date of the official switching-on of the Christmas Lights in Wellington.

The town council’s events working group first looked at the proposals in May 26 and these were verified by the economic development committee.