Blackburn Council have this week found themselves under fire for their lack of Christmas spirit.

Local traders urged the Council to lower parking charges over the next few weeks to encourage more trade in the town centre and to help boost the local economy.

However the Council have confirmed that prices will not change over the coming weeks.

Jeff Stone, who is a hairdresser in the town centre said that the confirmation of the price fix was a ‘body blow’ for all the traders in the heart of the town, and shows lack of Christmas spirit.

“This is a real body blow to the town centre when traders are desperate for Christmas to come. It is the council saying ‘bah humbug, Christmas is cancelled’.”

A spokesperson for the council defended their decision: "When the council offered free parking a few years ago it actually didn’t work because parking spaces were tied up all day by commuters rather shoppers.