TRADERS are hoping for a bumper shopping day after car parking charges were scrapped and events put on to lure Christmas bargain hunters.

Seven car parks across Southend will be offering free parking on Saturday, December 7, while a host of events are taking place including a Victorian Christmas spectacular in Hamlet Court Road, Westcliff.

The event is part of Small Business Saturday, a scheme encouraging people to shop locally and support traders.

Garry Lowen, owner of the Gleneagles Guest House in Clifftown Parade, Southend, said: “We’re all hoping it will bring more customers in.

“People like to talk about small businesses bringing us out of the economic crisis and this can be a part of it.”

Car parks in Ilfracombe Avenue and North Road, both in Southend, Hamlet Court Road and Ceylon Road in Westcliff, Elm Road and North Street in Leigh and Thorpe BayBroadway, will all be free on the day.

Twenty-five businesses in Leigh will be offering discounts.

Hamlet Court Road’s Victorian Christmas will feature live performances, a Santa’s grotto, a Christmas market, food and other activities from 2pm to 8pm.

Perry Mountford, general manager of the Hamlet Court pub, said: “It’s great car parking is free, if it will help more people visit the area.

“The road here is going to be closed and have stalls in it.

It is going to be a great day and it is about building awareness of Hamlet Court Road and our great businesses here.”

All car parks run by Southend Council are free on Thursdays after 4pm and all day on Sundays throughout December.