Free parking for Olympic Torch Midlands relay

Free parking is on offer at town centres in the Midlands to celebrate the arrival of the Olympic Torch, it was announced today.

Charges will be either waived or discounted in the Black Country and Staffordshire as thousands are expected to line the streets on June 30.

The move comes as it was announced today that Sir Cliff Richard will carry the Torch through Birmingham.

Free spaces will be available in Walsall and Sandwell, while council chiefs in Wolverhampton say they are considering a similar move.

In Walsall, 480 free spaces are on offer for the day at the multi-storey car park at the Saddlers Shopping Centre.

The offer will mark the completion of a £400,000 revamp of the car park over the past two months.

Walsall College is also offering free parking at its car park in College Way throughout the day.

In Sandwell, council chiefs have suspended fees on all council car parks for the day. The Sandwell Council staff car park off Dudley Road, in Oldbury, will also be available for public parking.

Meanwhile, Lichfield District Council is offering a discounted rate at its short-stay city car parks. A 90p ticket will cover drivers from 8.30am to 11.30am rather than an hour.

The flame will enter Lichfield at around 8.47am, passing through Streethay at 9.14am, Lichfield City from 9.20am and leaving for Tamworth at 10.08am. It arrives in Great Wyrley from 11.12am, crossing into Bloxwich at 11.58am and on into Walsall.

It will be in Wolverhampton at 2.40pm, Dudley at 4.15pm, Sandwell at 5.45pm and Birmingham at 7pm.

Sir Cliff will hold the torch shortly before 8pm as the relay makes its way to Cannon Hill Park in Edgbaston.

By Craig Hughes