A MANAGER of a Weavers Wharf store fears staff are being put at risk by high car parking charges which are forcing them to walk across town in the dark to cheaper car parks.

Next manager Daniel McCann said his largely female staff could not afford the £5 all day parking charge in the £60 million Kidderminster development and had to leave their cars in the Forest Glades car park where charges are £3.

"Something needs to be done as the nights are drawing in and it is not safe for staff to be walking across town in the dark," he said.

Ninety per cent of his staff are female and many do not finish work until 8.30pm. During the run-up to Christmas the store will stay open even later.

Mr McCann said his suggestion of hiving off five to 10 parking spaces at the less-used far end of the Weavers Wharf car park for staff who could be charged half price had been rejected by owners, the Highstone Group.

He said all that had been offered was the possibility of creating two parking spaces in the rear service yard, but that was not enough.

Highstone's managing director Chris Dalziel declined to comment.