PROTESTERS from North and South have joined forces to oppose plans to introduce car parking charges in their respective areas.

Campaigners from Norfolk visited Northallerton on Thursday in a show of solidarity with their North Yorkshire counterparts.

Protesters unfurled a 100ft banner, depicting the independent shops that could potentially be affected by plans to introduce pay and display charges in Harleston, Norfolk, outside Northallerton Town Hall.

Hambleton District Council wants to bring in parking charges in four market towns Northallerton, Thisk, Bedale and Stokesley from July next year.

Northallerton businessman Marcus Grover, who organised the demonstration, said: "People are fed up with local authorities risking the character of our towns with ill-thought out plans and little concern for the consequences of their actions."

Ian Carstairs, who is protesting against the Norfolk charges and was among yesterday's visitors to Northallerton, said: "Local shops are vital. Without them, the heart would go out of the community."