VISITORS to Glasgow city centre will be able to park for free every weekday evening for a month.

The move is aimed at supporting the 200 plus city shops which have extended their opening hours until 7pm.

From Monday, the city council-run Concert Square and Cambridge Street car parks will offer free parking from 5pm until midnight.

Buchanan Galleries car park will not charge motorists between 5pm and 11.30pm, and St Enoch will provide free parking until 8pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday and until 9pm on Thursday.

City council leader Gordon Matheson said: "People from all over Scotland and further afield love to visit Glasgow for its fantastic shops.

"The city has thousands of spaces across its car parks, so free parking is yet another great reason why Glasgow is the best place to come for late night shopping.

"Glasgow has a superb range of shops and restaurants and this is all about making it easier for people to spend more time enjoying them.

"We have worked closely with the Chamber of Commerce to support businesses through this initiative, which will help to attract even more shoppers to our city centre.

"I know there is pressure on Glasgow businesses and we are committed to various initiatives that will support them.

"As a council, we can see the benefit this move will bring at a time of year when money is tight, and I'm delighted Buchanan Galleries and the St Enoch Centre are also participating."

Stuart Patrick, chief executive of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, said: "This free parking initiative by Glasgow City Council, Buchanan Galleries and St Enoch Centre is to be warmly welcomed as it supports the recently extended city centre retail trading hours to 7pm.

"These plans make it even easier for people to come into the city centre and enjoy the world class range of shops, restaurants and bars."

Mr Patrick said the Chamber and the City Centre Retail Association are actively working with partners to drive footfall into the city and improve the shopping experience.

Retailers across Glasgow's Style Mile also welcomed the free parking offer.

Paul Mitchell, chairman of the City Centre Retail Association, said: "The initiative is greatly welcomed and demonstrates once again that Glasgow City Council and retailers can work together to make a real difference to shoppers in the city centre.

"We anticipate the partnership will provide great benefit to both consumers and businesses alike."

vivienne.nicoll @eveningtimes.co.uk