BLACK Friday visitors will be able to park for free at two major multi-storey car parks in Bournemouth town centre.

And council bosses are opening up extra festive parking this year in a bid to offset retailers' concerns about traffic jams hampering trade.

Bournemouth Town Centre BID and Bournemouth Borough Council are working together to boost footfall for businesses, especially in light of concerns - reported in the Daily Echo - about the impact of lane restrictions on the A338 Spur Road.

On November 23, Avenue Road multi-storey car park and Richmond Gardens multi-storey car park will be free to park in from 4pm until midnight.

In addition, free parking is available every evening from 6pm until midnight in Madeira Road car park and Avenue Road car park, up until the end of traffic restrictions on the A338 Spur Road - which are scheduled to finish on December 10.

This festive season free parking will be available at 13 town centre locations.

A council spokesman explained: "Bournemouth Borough Council’s yearly provision of free car parking on Sundays and Thursday evenings will return this year in selected car parks but this year it will also include the Avenue Road car park.

"Free parking will be available all day Sunday on the following dates - November 25 and December 2, 9, 16, and 23.

"From 4pm on Thursday evenings, free car parking will also be available on the following dates - November 29, December, 6, 13 and 20.

"The car parks included include Avenue Road, Richmond Gardens multi-storey, Eden Glen, Central, Richmond Hill, Winter Gardens, Braidley Road Bridge, West Hill, Town Hall Forecourt, Town Hall Extension, Town Hall Annexe, and St Stephens Road."