A Cornish town has taken the innovative step of declaring itself a free parking zone on five days in February in a bid to boost business.

Falmouth will not be charging motorists for parking at the town's two biggest car parks, The Dell and The Quarry, every Wednesday during the month.

The scheme is the brainchild of Falmouth Business Improvement District, or BID, a five-year programme which aims to improve the trading environment of the town.

Falmouth BID manager Richard Wilcox said it was a practical solution to a common complaint.

"We have to be as competitive and innovative as we possibly can be in order to make our town centre as attractive as possible for would-be shoppers, whether they are coming from Camborne or Cardiff," he said.

Mr Wilcox added that the cost of car parking was "one of the more emotive issues" which had been highlighted as a concern of businesses in the town as well as by retail guru Mary Portas in her recent report on how to reinvigorate Britain's high streets.

To secure the deal, Falmouth BID liaised with Cornwall Council and lobbied on behalf of local businesses to put across the private sector viewpoint on parking pricing and policy.

"I have been looking at various practical solutions to help support town businesses," said Mr Wilcox.

"By making free car parking in the Dell and Quarry car parks on Wednesdays throughout February, we are doing just that.

"In such challenging economic times, the more the BID works with the businesses in the town to make Falmouth even more appealing for a day visit or longer the better. "

To take advantage of the offer, drivers who come to Falmouth on February 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29 need only park in The Dell or The Quarry. No tickets are required and the free parking lasts for 24 hours.

The initiative is a first for Falmouth and will be watched closely by other towns in the county and wider region to see if it boosts business in what has traditionally been a slow month.

Guy Thomas, Cornwall Council town centre management specialist, said: "It is a very positive and encouraging step forward to see a partnership like this between Cornwall Council and Falmouth BID.

"As a town centre manager, I am acutely aware of the intrinsic link between car park provision and the impact it has upon a town centre.

"At a time when the collective high street needs as much support as it can get, this scheme is a real example of how Cornwall Council is keen to work with its partners to deliver solutions on the ground, and I hope this is a project which can be developed further in the future."

Falmouth BID is a not-for-profit group whose mission has four priority areas: marketing, events and festivals, physical improvements and business support. The project counts more than 400 businesses as members.