But bosses at the Middleton Grange Shopping Centre in Hartlepool say the work on the Waldon Street car park should cause minimal disruption to shoppers.

The shutdown starts on Monday, March 1, but alternative parking is available at the multi-storey car park, on Stockton Street.

The Waldon Street car park will have a facelift which will lead to 88 more car parking spaces, an increased number of disabled bays, better lighting and improved pedestrian access.

Signs will divert shoppers to the multi-storey car park and pedestrian access will still be available to the shops behind the car park.

Centre manager Mark Rycraft said: "I want to assure shoppers that the car park closure will create very limited disruption to shoppers as they will still be able to visit Middleton Grange and park easily at the multi-storey car park.

"We have a programme of works planned this year to improve Middleton Grange."

Philip Hepburn, parking services manager at Hartlepool Borough Council, said: "The Waldon Street car park is already a Park Mark award-winning car park, but we want to provide the best parking services possible for the shoppers of Hartlepool.

"We look forward to unveiling the improved car park at the end of May."