Monmouthshire County Council will once again offer free parking in Abergavenny, Chepstow and Monmouth in the run up to Christmas.

This will be a repeat of the successful free parking initiatives in 2011 and 2012 which gave a welcome boost to local shops and helped remind people of the county's fantastic range of independent retailers.

The free parking dates will be agreed with local trade bodies.

The decision to repeat free parking this Christmas was made by the cabinet member for County Operations, Councillor Bryan Jones as an individual member decision on 24th October.

Councillor Jones said: "Free parking was such a success over the last two years that it's right to repeat it. It did cost the council around £17,000 in lost revenue. But, of course, our towns benefited enormously from increased custom in shops and restaurants. And it reminded people what a brilliant range of shops we have in our towns."

The free parking in Abergavenny will be on the first three Saturdays in December