GLOOM over car parking in Kidderminster has deepened after a town centre car park was placed off limits to some season ticket holders.

The three upper levels of Blackwell Street car park will no longer be available to restricted season ticket holders. When they renew tickets, they will have to use sites outside the town centre such as Stadium Close and St Mary's Church.

Andrew Dickens, head of cultural, leisure and commercial services with Wyre Forest District Council, said the authority had decided to bring Blackwell Street into line with other sites.

Mr Dickens said traders had been saying they had had a difficult Christmas because of the reduced number of spaces available and the move was aimed at encouraging a high turnover of places.