WEMBLEY-BOUND football fans travelling to London by coach for Sunday’s Capital One Cup Final can park free of charge at Sunderland Civic Centre.

A fleet of buses is leaving from both the Stadium of Light and Park Lane, near the transport interchange, in the city centre, heading for Sunderland's big date in the capital against Manchester City.

Those supporters leaving from the Stadium of Light have been warned all car parks surrounding the ground will be closed, due to the number of buses departing.

But fans travelling from Park Lane, where more than 30 coaches are setting off early on Sunday, can leave their vehicles in the multi-storey car park alongside the civic centre.

The city council said all off-street car parks and on-street parking bays will be available around the centre of Sunderland throughout the weekend.

Secure parking is also available at both St Mary’s and Sunniside multi-storey car parks, equidistant from the stadium and Park Lane.

Council cabinet member for city services, James Blackburn, said: “We all want a good game, the right result and we want everyone to get there and back safely and securely.

“Both St Mary’s and Sunniside offer secure car parking and, for those fans arriving early or late for a coach to the match, they’re only short walks from the main coach points at Park Lane and the stadium.

“Free parking is available at the civic centre all day on Sunday.”

The civic centre car park has 585 spaces with charges waived from 6pm on Saturday (March 1) until 8am on Monday.

Sunniside car park has 653 spaces and is open 24-hours a day with a charge of 90p per hour from 8am - 6pm on Saturday, 50p per hour between 6pm and midnight on Saturday, and 50p per hour, up to a maximum of £1, all day Sunday.

St Mary’s car park has 480 spaces and will operate with extended hours over the weekend, not closing until midnight on Sunday.

The charges are £1.10 per hour from 8am - 6pm on Saturday, 50pm per hour from then until 8am on Sunday and 50p per hour for a maximum of £1 until 6pm on Sunday.