AMMANFORD will NOT have free parking in the key shopping period leading up to Christmas, the town's Chamber of Trade have confirmed.

The Guardian has received queries from readers under the impression that such a scheme had been implemented.

One man told how he had received a parking ticket having been assured by a relative that he did not have to pay.

Angela Phillips, secretary of the Chamber of Trade, said: "Carmarthenshire county council have taken free Christmas parking away from us – we've tried to get it brought back, but to no avail.

"As things stand, we can apply for five free parking days throughout the year as long as none of them are during the month of December.

"The last such free parking day was November 23 – the date of the town's popular Christmas Carnival."

Guardian editor Mike Lewis suggested confusion had possibly arisen following a Guardian article on November 27 edition detailing how Powys county council had brought in free parking from December 7 until Christmas Eve.

"Their scheme is being funded by the council's cabinet members not taking their full special salary entitlements, thereby generating savings of £47,000," he said.

"I feel strongly that towns like Ammanford need free parking in the crucial run-up to Christmas – could Carmarthenshire county council possibly take a leaf out of Powys's book and bring in free pre-Christmas parking next year?"