Shoppers with cars may be out of favour with Oxford City Council which wants to hike charges at the Westgate car park on Saturdays, but Abingdon is making it easier to park in the town that day.

Parking arrangements in the town's multi-storey car park have been changed to encourage more people to shop in the town, especially young families and elderly people.

The parking areas reserved for permit holders only on levels one and three by the Vale of White Horse District Council will now be available for all on Saturdays. In contrast, Oxford City Council is considering a 50 per cent increase in charges at the Westgate car park next year to encourage more use of park-and-ride services and local buses.

The changes, if introduced, would see a two hour stay going up from £3 to £4.50.

In Abingdon, traders and car park users have welcomed more space being made available for shoppers and their cars.

They hope it will reduce the number of people having to use the stairs after parking on higher levels. Theresa Gallacher, from Chilton Close, Abingdon, parked on level four and with her two children, Louise, five, and two-year-old Andrew who was in a pushchair, used the lift to get to the ground floor.

She said: "It's a nuisance. You either have to use the lifts or walk down the stairs which is difficult with a pushchair.

"It seems silly forcing people to use the upper floors on Saturdays when there are so many empty permit holder spaces empty."

Melanie Trinder, from Kestrel Crescent in Blackbird Leys, Oxford, parked on level four and was with her son Max in a pushchair.

She said: "If you use the stairs, they are bumpy for young children so you have to wait for the lift. Parking spaces on the lower floors should be freed up on Saturdays for shoppers.

"I prefer Abingdon to Oxford for shopping. If the parking arrangements were better, I am sure more people would visit the town."

Nick Cosford, owner of the Gift Centre in the shopping precinct, said: "I'm fully behind the idea and so too are other businesses.

"It was crazy when you went to the car park on a busy Saturday and saw so many empty parking bays reserved for permit holders."

Richard Farrell, the council's executive member with car park responsibilities, said: "I hope it will encourage more people to come to Abingdon on Saturdays."