Christmas shopping is stressful at the best of times and only made worse by the fact you can never park near the shops.

St Albans District Council has taken this on-board and created extra parking spaces in Harpenden for the festive period.

Around 300 extra spaces will be available every Saturday in the run-up to Christmas, when a temporary car park opens at Rothamsted Research centre in West Common.

Shoppers can park there between 9am and 6pm, between November 26 and December 24, to help the city cope with the Christmas rush.

All-day parking costs £4 and the money raised will be donated to local charities Tyler Reader Brighter Future and Youth Talk.

St Albans District councillor Beric Read said: “We are pleased to have organised this extra parking during the busiest shopping days of the festive period.

“Car parks in Harpenden will be under pressure at this time, so I am sure people will make use of this temporary facility.

“Another welcome feature is that the money raised will all go towards two local charities. I would thank Rothamsted Research for their help in making all of this happen.”