A DEPARTMENT store is offering to pick up the cost of parking this Christmas.

Launched on Monday and running until Sunday, Debenhams is offering to cover the cost of two hours of shopper’s parking when spending £50 at the Festival Place store.

Customers have to produce a photo or ticket at the till point as proof of parking for the cost of two hours parking to be deducted from goods purchased.

Store manager, Erica Davies, said: “We want to encourage shoppers to come and not only ‘do a bit of Debenhams’ but also meet with friends and family and get into the Christmas spirit by seeing everything that is going on along their high street. We hope that by taking away the pain of a parking ticket that we’ll do our bit to encourage shoppers to hit the high street and rediscover their joy of shopping.”

Debenhams chief executive officer Sergio Bucher added: “If we want to retain thriving high streets in our communities, retailers must keep working hard to entice shoppers over the threshold and make shopping in store more exciting. Debenhams will be getting shoppers into the festive mood with Christmas markets and other seasonal in store experiences including 70 pop up food and drink offers.

"By taking away the pain of a parking ticket we hope to encourage shoppers to come and not only ‘do a bit of Debenhams’ but also meet with family and friends and rediscover everything that is going on along their high street.”