Plans to upgrade two car parks in Didcot could help combat the town's parking problems.

South Oxfordshire District Council plans to resurface two areas of waste ground on either side of the High Street and Broadway junction.

The areas are currently used as informal temporary car parks but, once properly marked out, the number of available spaces will increase to 80. The area to the west of High Street will be designated as a long-stay car park providing 20 spaces. A further 60 short-stay spaces will be available on the east side.

The areas are earmarked for development as part of the town centre regeneration, but the council said work is unlikely to start in the next five years.

Didcot town and district councillor Eleanor Hards welcomed the plan but said the town was still short of spaces.

Parking has become a real issue since the Orchard Centre opened last summer.

In December, the town's Chamber of Commerce warned that unless the problem was addressed, shoppers would stop coming to the town.

Chamber spokesman Jeanette Howse welcomed the plan but added: "Parking is more of an issue for people who work here. We have to resolve where they park that will not take up spaces for people coming in to shop."