THE cost of parking is regularly cited as the top reason people avoid Ipswich, but you don’t necessarily have to dig deep.

The council has announced that parking charges will be slashed over the next fortnight and park & ride fees abolished completely.

Mid-week shoppers will still have to pay the full rate but in order to spread some festive cheer, we have been out and about in Ipswich seeking out the cheapest places to park.

Among the top deals is Zak’s hand car wash, where for �5 you can not only park all day but also have your car buffed and shined.

Or, if you are prepared for a short stroll you can leave your car at the RCP car park at The Mill for just 40p per hour.

In Slade Street, parking is just �3 per day - compared to �3 per hour in some town centre car parks.

And if you are visiting the Waterfront shops, eateries and wine bars, you can benefit from three hours free parking.

Do you know any other cheap or even free parking spots? Share your parking secrets here.