WORK has started this week on a £500,000 scheme to upgrade The Shires car park in Trowbridge.

Contractors began work on the 1,000-space car park on Monday and are expected to finish in 12 weeks.

Shoppers will still be able to use the car park during the work, which will include resurfacing and improving lighting.

Centre manager Mike Murray said: "We are sorry for any inconvenience but we aim to keep disruption to a minimum.

"The work will also include redecoration and remarking."

To fund the works, parking charges will be introduced as soon as work is completed.

Mr Murray said: "If we could have avoided introducing charges we would have but the cost of these works is enormous and the only way to fund it is to introduce charges."

The level of the charges has not been confirmed but it is thought they will be in line with other car parks in the town: 30p for an hour, £1.80 for a whole day.

The car park is used by shoppers at the town's ASDA store and, although the supermarket has yet to confirm its plans, it is thought a scheme will be introduced to subtract parking charges from shopping bills.

The public toilets in The Shires will also be refurbished in June.