A LOCAL authority is celebrating after it secured sponsorship for the 50,000 parking discs it distributes to motorists each year.

In a new initiative from Hambleton District Council, advertising space has been sold on the discs, which must be used in the authority's short-stay car parks.

Cabinet spokesman Councillor John Morley, said: "By selling advertising space on these discs we have been able to reduce production costs, as well as offer district-wide advertising to local businesses.

"When car parking was reviewed as part of the best value process last year, bringing costs down was a target.

"This sponsorship helps us to maintain disc parking throughout the district, which local people and visitors benefit from."

The scheme has given Hambleton Community Safety Partnership the chance to promote itself, while The Flower Box, in Stokesley, has had the opportunity to advertise throughout the district.

The discs allow motorists to park free for up to two hours in Thirsk, Stokesley and Northallerton's Applegarth, as well as for three hours at Hambleton Community Centre