Discounted bus fares and free parking are to be on offer for residents of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole in the run up to Christmas.

Both Yellow Buses and Morebus are offering a ticket that permits from two to five people to travel together on any number of journeys in the BCP Council area for just £5 – a saving of £7 on the normal price.

The discounted tickets, purchased from the driver, will be available throughout the day each Sunday prior to Christmas (6, 13 and 20 December) and from 5.30pm to midnight every Thursday (3, 10 and 17 December). Tickets will be valid only for the operator from whom they are purchased.

Meanwhile, BCP Council is offering a series of free parking offers across the conurbation: on both Thursday evenings and Sundays in the main town centre car parks, and within other districts on Saturday afternoons. Free parking will be available as follows:

Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch town centres on Thursdays 3, 10, 17 and 24 December, 4pm to 10pm and on Sundays 6, 13 and 20 December, 10am to 6pm.

Also in district car parks – Boscombe; Southbourne; Westbourne; Winton; Highcliffe; Ashley Road, Poole; Broadstone; Penn Hill, Poole; Canford Cliffs and Ashley Cross on Saturdays only, 5, 12 and 19 December, from mid-day to 6pm.

Contactless payment methods are available in almost all of these facilities and anyone queuing should stay two metres apart. Face coverings are mandatory in all multi-story car parks.

Cllr Mike Greene, portfolio holder for Transport and Sustainability at BCP Council, said, “We know how difficult the year has been for local businesses and how hard they’ve worked, with our continued support, to make our high streets Covid-secure. Our high streets are the heart of our community and this shows our commitment to them by offering residents free parking opportunities and, for the first time, a consistent discount from both bus operators to ensure that this year’s Christmas offering has something for everyone, not only for those who drive.”