Car parking charges are being frozen by Carlisle City Council in its upcoming budget.

The move comes after the Labour-led authority decided to scrap evening charges at the Sands Centre.

Now leaders have pledged to keep charges in other council car parks across the city at their current levels in next financial year.

Leader Colin Glover said: “We are going to freeze charges this year to support people coming into the city and support local businesses. For a historic city they are relatively low. In some you can park all day for as little as £2.50.”

He added that most of the money raised goes to maintain the car parks and provide security.

“Some people say you should make car parking free, but if you do that they just fill up with people coming in to work, then visitors can’t park. It’s finding the balance,” he said.

The Sands Centre evening charge is set to be scrapped at the end of the week.