SHOPPERS visiting Southend ahead of Christmas are being given an incentive to spend their cash at a town centre store.

Debenhams will pick up the tab for parking for customers who spend £50 or more at its shop in the Royals Shopping Centre.

The scheme will run until Sunday.

It will see the retailer reimburse the cost of two hours parking if shoppers spend more than £50 in store.

Customers will have to produce a photo or parking ticket at the tills to get the amount deducted from their shopping bill.

A store spokesman said: "We want to encourage shoppers to come and not only ‘do a bit of Debenhams’ but also meet with friends and family and get into the Christmas spirit by seeing everything that is going on along their high street.

“We hope that by taking away the pain of a parking ticket that we’ll do our bit to encourage shoppers to hit the high street and rediscover their joy of shopping."