A council is hoping it can make a difference to a market town's car parking woes as a much-needed survey begins.

Breckland Council has commissioned a study to look at how its car parks across the district are used, including in Thetford.

Drivers to the town have recently experienced difficulty getting parked after work on the Riverside Leisure development meant spaces on the old bus station car park were lost.

The project will launch on 9 May and will be delivered by Breckland Bridge, the council's joint venture partner.

The upcoming study will reveal which are the most used car parks, peak times of demand, and typical parking durations in Dereham, Swaffham, Thetford and Attleborough.

Lynda Turner, Breckland's Executive Member for Place, said: 'This project will improve on our existing information and help to inform our strategic decisions about whether it is necessary to change or improve car parking provision and where these changes would have the most significant effect for our residents, businesses, and visitors.

'This valuable insight will enable us, alongside our partners, to plan for the future of our towns and best support and enhance the vibrancy, attractiveness and commercial success of Breckland's town centres.'

According to a spokesman for Breckland Bridge, the study will help support the council in planning the development of the district by providing a clear and accurate picture of parking demand.

This will potentially identify opportunities for the car parks to be better utilised or enhanced and ensure these publicly owned assets are delivering maximum benefit to local people, the spokesman added.

Results from this survey will complement other reviews being undertaken, including the Greater Thetford Development Partnership study into traffic flows and signage in Thetford and Norfolk County Council's ongoing review of highways improvements proposed in Attleborough.

Discreet temporary cameras will be installed in each of the included car parks and data is expected to be collected in Thetford and Attleborough on Wednesday 11, Thursday 12 and Saturday 14 May.

Data will be collected in Dereham and Swaffham car parks on Wednesday 18, Thursday 19 and Saturday 21 May.

This information will then be analysed and a report produced over the coming months.