And with some local retaillers opening late on Thursdays to help people get their Christmas shopping done in time you can also benefit from free parking.

Retailers in Christopher Place and the Maltings will welcome customers until 7pm on Christmas late night shopping evenings, while some of the shops on St Peters Street will keep their doors open as late as 9pm.

The following St Albans City & District Council owned carparks, operated by NCP, will be free on Thursdays in the run up to Christmas from 6.30pm:

• Drovers Way multi-storey
• Civic Centre
• Adelaide Street
• London Road
• Gombards

A map giving details of the above carparks is available at:http://www.stalbans.gov.uk/transport-and-streets/parking/Car-parks-in-St-Albans/