A car park in Ashford town centre remains closed despite being expected to finally reopen today.

Ashford Borough Council announced last week that drivers would be able to use the ground floor of Park Mall car park from this morning.

But contractors have been working on the site today and barriers needed to allow for automatic number-plate recognition (ANPR) technology are yet to be installed.

ABC said earlier how "there were just a few last-minute adjustments but the car park will be opening shortly" – but the site remains closed this afternoon.

Once up and running, only cashless payments will be accepted, with drivers paying £1 per hour up to four hours, and £5 for anything over four.

There is currently a lack of parking for disabled residents in the town centre as lifts at the nearby Edinburgh Road car park have been closed off following a safety inspection.

ABC said last week how it had been "working hard to bring the opening date forward" for Park Mall in light of the lift closures.

The authority had initially planned to open the 300-space facility in May after former operator NCP shut the site last September.