A shop owner has praised a new scheme which gives town centre customers daytime parking for just £2.

The Day Out in Colchester offer allows visitors to use the Colchester Council-run Britannia car park, near the town station, to pay just £2 if they are staying between 10am and 3pm.

Steve Miller, of Miller Stationery on St Botolph’s Street, said visitors to his shop had mentioned the scheme, which he believed would help boost trade.

“It’s absolutely brilliant news,” he said.

“It makes such sense. People can come in before the rush hour and leave before the school children come out.

“Whoever has thought of that has been listening to what people have been saying and acted on it.”

Parking services manager Richard Walker said the offer sat alongside a refurbishment of the car park which included the creation of 90 more spaces.

“The offers came out of discussions with retailers held some time ago, and now the regulations and technology is in place to support the scheme,” he said.

“As with everything, it had to be tested to see if it could be made to work.

“We first introduced the Day Out in Colchester offer in partnership with our tourism colleagues over the summer, and the offer proved so successful – more than 2,600 people have used it – that we have extended its end date and are again promoting the offer.

“We are now working closely with the Colchester town centre retailers’ association in order to promote and develop this and other car park offers.”

Customers arriving after 10am should first press the yellow button on the parking machine, to check the offer is valid.

A similar afternoon and evening out offer is currently being trialled at St Mary’s car park.

Visit the parking services page on colchester.gov.uk for more information.