Blue Badge access to the city centre will be suspended during the Christmas markets, City of York Council has confirmed.

Badge holders are being told that the two routes into York city centre will close from 10.30am to 7pm daily, during the Christmas market period, which runs from November 14 to December 22.

This will be the first such closure since the routes reopened, and access will remain open 7pm-10.30am daily.

"It was agreed when these routes reopened, that at extremely busy times during major events, they would need to close temporarily," the council said.

"One of these times was expected to be during the Christmas markets.

"This formed part of the original consultation to allow Blue Badge holder access that included disabled people, businesses and residents."

The closure was recommended by the city's multi-agency Safety Advisory Group.

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Taxi firms are also being contacted about the closure.

Cllr Kate Ravilious, Executive Member for Transport at City of York Council, said: "When we reopened these important routes, we were clear that at extremely busy times, we’d have to consider temporarily closing them.

"The popular Christmas markets are one such time.

"In future years we intend to find ways to enable Blue Badge holders' access to the city centre during the Christmas market, but this requires significant forward planning with Make it York.

"We’re notifying Blue Badge holders and taxi drivers and operators well ahead of this temporary closure from Thursday, November 14 to Sunday, December 22, 10.30am to 7pm.

"This will be York’s first Christmas with the temporary barriers replaced with permanent barriers, now offering a safe and attractive city centre environment during a very busy period.

"The temporary barriers did the job but I’m not sorry to see them go."