VISITOR car parking charges at Queen's Park Hospital in Blackburn have risen.

It will now cost £1.20 to park up to three hours, £1.50 for three to eight hours and £2.50 for eight to 24 hours.

The old charge was £1 for any period.

A trust spokesman said the money would go towards extra car parking, security and schemes to get staff, patients and visitors travelling to use alternative ways of getting to the hospital.

Temporary car parks are operating on the site where work is taking place on the new £100million Blackburn superhospital.

The spokesman said: "At this stage in the construction process there is a great deal of disruption on the hospital site ,causing difficulties in terms of car parking and access.

"This situation should not continue for much longer and is soon to be greatly improved.

"A new car park is to be built housing, initially, 1,000 spaces which will significantly assist patients, staff and visitors in accessing the hospital."