CAR park charges in the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority's car parks will fall from £3.50 to £2 a day on April 1 following consultation between park residents and businesses.

The new charges will be: £1 for up to an hour and £2 for the whole day. Coaches with seating for over 16 passengers will still be able to park for free, apart from the authority's car parks at Aysgarth and Horton which are not suitable for coaches.

David Butterworth, chief executive of the park authority, said: "We set the new car park charges before foot and mouth disease deterred people from the countryside. Yet we hope the new reduced rates will go at least some way to help encourage people back to the National Park, to enjoy what is on offer in the towns and villages of the area."