CAR parking charges in central Newcastle will rise in the new year.

From Monday, January 17, hourly rates will increase by 10p in nine car parks in the city.

It follows a vote by Newcastle City Council. The authority said prices have been frozen at more than 80 per cent of its car parks, accounting for about 4,000 spaces.

Those affected by the increase are the city centre areas used mainly by shoppers.

They are the Dean Street, Eldon Square, Eldon Garden and Oxford multi-storey car parks, and those in College Street, Ellison Place, Heywoods Court, Painters Heugh and Saville Place.

The council's annual review has also frozen the price of residents' permits at £20 a year and visitors' permits at £10 a year. Residents' exemption permits and business permits have been increased in line with inflation.

Parking control manager Neil Cuthbert said: "This is the first time in three years we have increased charges at Eldon Square and Eldon Garden car parks.

"The majority of increases have been kept in line with inflation and will not be introduced until the busy Christmas retail period is over."