CAR parking woe is set to return to Kidderminster with the axing of more spaces.

The town will lose 275 slots when work starts on the remainder of the £60 million Weavers' Wharf development on July 21.

The loss of 250 spaces on Pitts Lane surface car park and 25 at the Sling will last for 18 months until the development is completed.

It will make way for shops and restaurants on the leisure and retail site which is expected to give an immediate £35 million boost to the district economy.

However, Wyre Forest District Council stressed there would be 4,544 spaces compared to the current 4,129 when the development is completed.

It aims to take over a state-of-the-art 450 space car park on the Pitts Lane site in 18 months.

Commercial services chief Andrew Dickens apologised in advance for any inconvenience.

He said: "The town centre development is progressing very well and we are pleased to be at the forefront of this.

"The temporary loss of the car park is far from ideal but unfortunately cannot be avoided if phase two is to proceed."

Transport and traffic portfolio holder councillor Brian Glass urged drivers to use the council-subsidised park-and-ride scheme at Stadium Close, next to Kidderminster Harriers football ground.

Drivers can park there for £1 and use a free bus which drops them off at Kidderminster Town Hall every half-hour.

Mr Glass said: "It is vital for the future prosperity of the district that these developments are carried out.

"The council is totally committed to doing all that we can to minimise the impact of the changes but unfortunately some inconvenience is unavoidable."

Shoppers and visitors to the town have endured a year of parking hell due to the demolition of Pitts Lane and Market Street multi-storey car parks to make way for the development.

At one point spaces plummeted to 2,815.