TOWN centre parking charges will increase for the first time in six years.

A spokesman from St Helens Council says the authority is taking this measure to help make savings of £7.4 million in 2017/18.

Tariffs in council-run car parks and on-street parking in the town centre will increase from Monday, May 1. Free Parking on Saturdays and on weekdays after 3pm will also cease from this date.

On average, an hour's parking will cost £1 rather than 80 pence, and two hours will go up to £1.50 from £1.20, on Mondays to Fridays.

However, concessions will be in place for Saturdays with parking in all council-run car parks capped at 50p for up to two hours and £1 for over two hours.

Since 2011, St Helens Council has frozen parking charges and offered concessions such as free parking on Saturdays and free parking after 3pm, however in light of the need to make savings this year of £7.4 million and the requirement to protect "vital services" such as child and adult social care, the authority spokesman says this can no longer be the case.

St Helens Council's strategic director for environmental and trading standards, Paul Sanderson, said: "With the unprecedented level of savings to be made and the need to protect essential services, together with the raising costs to maintain the car parks, we have little choice but to increase parking charges in the town centre.

"This is the first increase in charges since 2011 and we will still maintain discounted parking in the town on Saturdays with the charge of 50 pence for up to two hours.

"Even with the increase, parking in St Helens town centre is still cheaper than surrounding towns where charges apply."

Parking permits for businesses and individuals have not increased.