Christmas has come early for Barnet drivers as free parking sweeps the borough just in time for the holiday shopping season.

Throughout December, parking will be free on weekends in all pay-to-park bays and all of Barnet Council’s car parks.

Announced today by the council, the scheme will debut this weekend (December 3-4) and carry on for the rest of the month.

This will include the extended bank holiday weekends around Christmas day (December 24-27) and New Year (December 31-January 2).

Chair of the environment committee Cllr Dean Cohen, said: “We all know how busy it gets from this time onwards to the New Year celebrations.

“So we are really pleased we can offer additional support to traders and residents with free parking as they enjoy preparing for the festive season during the weekends.

“We are making it even easier for our residents and visitors to move around the borough’s many high streets to find everything they need.”

You can find more information on parking in Barnet here: www.barnet.gov.uk/parking