CHRISTMAS shoppers in both Ceredigion and Powys will benefit from free parking in the lead-up to the festive season.

Ceredigion and Powys councils have announced that there will be free parking on Saturdays during December in the build-up to Christmas Day with Ceredigion County Council’s car parks free for shoppers for three Saturdays starting on 2 December, and free parking in Powys County Council’s car parks on 16 and 23 December.

Ceredigion council decided to provide three days of free parking starting from 2 December, which is Small Business Saturday. There will also be free parking on Saturday, 9 December, and Saturday, 16 December.

Cllr Ray Quant, the technical services Cabinet member, said the authority had wanted to support Small Business Saturday as part of the build-up to Christmas and also said free bus travel on the TrawsCymru services on Saturdays was also a bonus to people looking to shop in Ceredigion’s towns.

The free parking in Powys will be held on Saturday, 16 December and Saturday, 23 December, at all Powys council car parks.

See this week’s south editions for the full story, in shops and online on Wednesday