A Suffolk council is entering into the festive spirit – by offering free car parking to support the Christmas celebrations in communities across its district.

Suffolk Coastal will be supporting the local Christmas Celebrations at Aldeburgh, Felixstowe, Woodbridge, Saxmundham, Leiston, Framlingham and Wickham Market over the coming weeks

Andrew Nunn, Suffolk Coastal’s cabinet member for the green environment, said the aim of the free parking in key towns was to encourage people to come in and support the Christmas events.

He said: “Suffolk Coastal works throughout the year to support local business in many ways.

“At Christmas, we feel it is important for Suffolk Coastal to play its part in encouraging people to shop locally and attend the festive events.

“This is a special time of year and tremendous effort goes into organising these Christmas events.

“I would urge people to get out and support their local event.”

Felixstowe Town Council has arranged for free car parking in Crescent Road, Highfield Road and Ranelagh Road car parks on November 30 for the resort’s Christmas lights switch-on and Christmas craft market.

The car parks will be free from 4pm to 6pm.

On the same day in Aldeburgh, there will be free parking from 11am to 6pm at Oakley Square and King Street for the lights switch-on.

On December 1 Suffolk Coastal will open up its main office car park on Melton Hill from 10am to 4pm during the Woodbridge Christmas street fair, and again from 5pm to 9pm on Festive Fridays December 6, 13 and 20, and from 9am to 5.30pm for Christmas shopping on December 7, 14 and 21.

On December 6, Market Place at Saxmundham will be free from noon to 6pm for the festive fair; December 7, High Street and Sizewell Road, Leiston, from 8am to 6pm, also for a Christmas fair; December 13, Fore Street, Framlingham, from 3.30pm for late-night shopping; and December 14, The Hill long stay parking area in Wickham Market will be free from 9am to 6pm for the festive fair.

The council will also be promoting the UK’s first Small Business Saturday on Saturday, December 7.

The national initiative is promoting the “shop local” ethos, aimed at breathing new life back into High Streets and town centres to make them centres of the local community.

Mr Nunn said: “The small businesses and their associations are gearing up for December 7.

“It would be great to see everyone in the community getting behind them and shopping locally to make this first Small Business Saturday a roaring success.”