Banbury's Castleside multi-storey car park will be closing permanently at the end of today.

The car park in Bolton Road is being shut as part of the ongoing regeneration of the town centre.

It follows a recent inspection of the car park by an independent structual engineer who found what Cherwell District Council called "some significant structural issues."

Councillor George Reynolds, the council's deputy leader, said: “The future of the car park was one of the significant areas being considered in respect of the wider regeneration opportunities to improve the town centre environment.

“Whilst we had not intended to close the facility this early, we have now, in light of the latest inspection, no option but to do so.

"Both CDC and Indigo (the leasehold operator) take the findings of the structural engineers advice seriously and in coming to a decision, we agreed to cease the use of the facility due to the health and safety implications of customers using the car park and the community generally which are always of primary concern."

Car park users are asked to make alternative parking arrangements, and existing permit holders can transfer to other council-managed car parks.

For more details on alternative car parks go to cherwell.gov.uk.