HOSPITAL car parks across Herefordshire will be offering free parking to patients and visitors on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

At Hereford County Hospital, the car park barriers will be raised for the two days, and the pay machines will be temporarily taken out of action, whilst signs advising that parking is free will be displayed on the pay machines at Ross, Leominster and Bromyard community hospitals.

Wye Valley NHS Trust Head of Estates Christian Homersley said: "We are pleased to offer free parking to patients and relatives on Christmas Day and Boxing Day as we know that patients would prefer to be at home at Christmas and hopefully this makes it easier for relatives visiting on these days."