Coastal towns council launches discount card

A residents' card which offers households discounts and offers on council-run businesses and services has been launched.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council said BCP Life, which launched on Monday, would give people in the coastal towns "more for their money".

Perks including cheaper parking, discounted food and drinks at council-operated cafes and free swimming at leisure centres, are now available.

BCP said that as well as helping protect incomes, the scheme also ensured local businesses were supported.

The scheme was approved by the council in October, which matched its funding through the government's UK Shared Prosperity Fund grant.

One of the listed perks is an hour of free parking with any purchased session after 09:30 BST at select town centre council-run surface car parks.

The council said the BCP Life website would be continually updated as more businesses join the scheme.

"We already know this is a great place to live with proud communities who care deeply about their local area," BCP leader Millie Earl said.

"I'm really pleased that our residents will now be able to benefit from exclusive discounts across our towns: helping to ease ongoing cost of living pressures.

"This is an exciting first phase for BCP LIFE and I can't wait to see what comes next."