Shropshire residents are being urged to think of their neighbours to ensure that there are plenty of parking places in residential areas for NHS staff, carers and other key workers.

With most people now following the government instruction to stay at home, many residential streets are now full of parked cars – making it hard for people to find somewhere to park near to their home on their return from work, especially in areas with terraced housing.

However, with all Shropshire Council car parks now free of charge until further notice, people are being urged to leave their vehicles in one of the car parks instead.

Steve Davenport, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for highways and transport, said:“This is an opportunity for people to help their neighbours and communities by ensuring that parking spaces are available for those that most need them.

"Last week we made all Shropshire Council car parks free to use, to help our NHS staff, care workers and other key workers, and to help those to need to make essential journeys for food or medical reasons.

“However, it will help our key workers even further if people can keep on-street parking spaces free for those who need them most, and to park their vehicles in one of the council’s car parks.

“This will also help to reduce congestion and incidences of dangerous parking, due to the number of people now staying at home.”

The call comes as the council confirmed that parking enforcers will continue to operate in the county, despite complaints they were not viewed as key workers.

Grant Tunnadine, Shropshire Council’s investigations team manager, trading standards and parking enforcement, said: “The parking enforcement team will continue to monitor parking compliance, and will address any identified contraventions in the appropriate manner.

“Motorists and residents are advised that parking in all Shropshire Council-run off-street car parks in the county is now free, and we would encourage everyone to use these car parks at all times to ensure obstructions to the road network do not happen.

“This will help retailers and services receive and arrange deliveries of essential goods, such as food and medicines, at all times, and enable emergency services to navigate residential streets without unnecessary delay.”