FREE parking in a Winchester city centre car park has come to an end.

The Durngate car park, off North Walls, was open for use for at least a week until the county council closed it late on Wednesday.

Temporary fencing bars entry and there is now a 'closed' sign in place.

Two police cars were yesterday parked at the entrance but is not thought to be related to enforcing the closure.

The 80-space car park was open following the completion of the flood defences on one of the Itchen streams at the back of the site. But no ticket machines are yet installed.

For most of its unofficial opening the car park was only lightly used.

In a statement, Hampshire County Council said: “I can confirm that Durngate car park remains closed. It has been closed while flood alleviation works, and also building work on nearby Trinity House, have been undertaken.

"The surface of the car park still needs to be reinstated and there is also a need for some minor landscaping work. Highways officers are currently arranging for more robust measures to be introduced to reinforce the fact that the car park is shut.”

A notice on the closure sign at the entrance, said: "The access to Durngate car park is to be physically blocked on the 14 July and will reopen to the public when the pay and display machines are installed.

"We kindly ask you do not park in this car park before that (reopening) date. Any vehicle left in this car park after that date (July 14) risks being trapped as the access will be closed and arrangements will need to be made for its release."