Controversial new parking charges come into effect this weekend.

The new arrangements come into play at Cheshire East car parks from Sunday, May 26.

This includes charges being extended by four hours, to cover the period from 8am to 10pm, as well as being introduced on Sundays.

There will also be an increase in some parking charges and permits.

Speaking when these changes were announced in March, councillor Mark Goldsmith, chair of Cheshire East Council's highways and transport committee, said: "When benchmarked against neighbouring councils, it is clear that our current parking charges are significantly lower.

"Nor do they reflect inflation as this is also only the second time parking charges have been increased since Cheshire East was formed in 2009.

 "Coupled with the council's financial challenges, we have little option but to look at how we maximise our income and ensure that the charges we collect are sufficient to help cover the rising costs of maintaining, managing, and enforcing our car parks.

"Any surplus from parking charges is money that can be used to support other services that fall under the highways and transport committee, for example roads maintenance or Sunday and evening bus services."

The council's 'free after 3pm' initiative will remain in operation at one car park in each of Cheshire East's towns and villages.

In Congleton, this is Back Park Street car park.

Details of the new prices can be found here.