Argyll and Bute Council has agreed to suspend parking charges in all its off-street car parks in the five days leading up to Christmas.

This is the third year in a row that the charges have been lifted in a bid to boost local businesses during the busiest few shopping days of the year.

Council leader Councillor Dick Walsh said: “We have done this for the past couple of years to help our communities and local traders, and the feedback from both shoppers and traders has been overwhelmingly positive.

“Given the current challenging financial climate – and, if last year is anything to go by, the potentially extreme weather conditions – I am delighted to once again lift the charges.”

The amnesty will cover December 20-24 inclusive.