A CHARD woman has had an early Christmas present, thanks to South Somerset District Council.

Sharon Chlopecki-Carslake bought a parking ticket and found it was one of the 30 special Golden Tickets the council had introduced.

It is part of an incentive for motorists to park in towns and visit local shops in the run-up to Christmas.

Sharon will now be able to claim a three-month free season ticket for any long-stay car park of her choice in Chard, Ilminster, Crewkerne or Yeovil, worth up to £240.

If you park in any SSDC-operated payand-display car park between now and December 31 and you receive a golden ticket, make sure you retain it.

You can claim your three-month season ticket by sending it to: South Somerset District Council, Car Park Administration, Brympton Way, Yeovil, Somerset, BA20 2HT.

Cllr Tim Carroll, portfolio holder for Finance and Strategic Car Park Income, told the News: “The Golden Ticket is just one of a series of car parking initiatives that we are trialling this year across the district to encourage shoppers, tourists and others to visit Yeovil and our market towns.

“Another significant trial is our ‘free after 3 on Tuesdays’ initiative – the exemption ticket for this went out in the current edition of ‘South Somerset News’ which was delivered to all households across the District in November.

“We are also running car parking offers around specific events like markets which are being publicised and promoted with the local press”.