DRIVERS in Bury will benefit from free parking close to the town centre for five weeks from next Wednesday.

The Castlecroft car park, was due to close this week.

It was set up in April following building work on a new multi-storey car park near the Mill Gate Shopping Centre.

But Bury Council has extended the use of the site - which is used for the fairground each year - until October 26 and for a further four Saturdays leading up to Christmas.

Council bosses will be forced to shut the popular car park next month due to lack of funding for lighting.

Bury Metro Traffic and Engineering chairman, Cllr Winston Ramsey, said: "Unfortunately, we don't have funding in the budget to cover the cost of either staffing or lighting which really is needed from a security point of view.

"Having had further discussions, however, we do believe that the car park has a role to play in the run up to Christmas and hence our decision to open it on the four Saturdays."

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