A BAN on cars is to be extended when a town centre square becomes pedestrianised seven days a week. Market Place in Hitchin will be off limits to cars during Sunday daytimes from September 1 - extending the ban on vehicles in the square during the day th

A BAN on cars is to be extended when a town centre square becomes pedestrianised seven days a week.

Market Place in Hitchin will be off limits to cars during Sunday daytimes from September 1 - extending the ban on vehicles in the square during the day throughout the week.

Judi Billing, chairman of North Herts District Council Hitchin committee, which called for the change, said: "The parking ban means that at last families with children will be safe to walk about, drink coffee and play without fear of cars either knocking them down or polluting the atmosphere of the square."

As with the rest of the week the ban will be in force from 8am until 6pm.

And in a further move to improve Market Place for pedestrians, Hitchin committee has set aside �50,000 to take up the uneven and loose cobbled surface of the square and re-lay it with improved mortar.

Cllr Billing said she expected this to happen in the autumn and as early as September. She added that she hoped Herts County Council would renovate the surrounding street surfaces at the same time.