Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council cut car park charges this week.

From Monday charges were reduced at a number of short-stay car parks in Redcar and Saltburn and commuters will be able to buy season tickets, which will save them £150 a year.

The new charges are 60p to park for up to an hour at a number of sites instead of the previous minimum charge of a £1 for two hours, and 50p for up to two hours in parts of the Redcar sea- front area. An annual Monday to Friday season ticket for long-stay car parks will be available for £350, saving £150 compared to the daily rate.

Coun Sylvai Szintai, the council's lead member for environment and infrastructure, said: "We have listened very carefully to the representations we have received from both individual members of the public and the Redcar Business Association, and I hope that these price reductions will provide a further incentive for people to visit Redcar and Saltburn."

Results will be monitored and Coun Szintai said: "If in fact we discover that, by attracting more users, the overall revenue actually increases, we will certainly consider whether it might be possible to adopt a similar approach at other car parks in the borough."

The car parks where the 60p an hour charge will operate are at West Dyke Road south of the level crossing, Redcar and Cleveland House short-stay section, Grant Street near Redcar Health Centre, Majuba Road at Coatham Sea Front and Saltburn Cat Nab boating lake.

The 50p offer will apply at Granville Terrace near the Stray roundabout and Newcomen Terrace near the boating lake.