Parking charges will double in Gravesend at the beginning of January - unless a member of the public comes up with a good alternative that will produce £400,000 in a hurry.

The money is needed cover overspending earlier in the year. Fees for an hour will jump from 50p to 80p with other charges doubling. Free parking on Saturdays will end.

A public challenge for ideas how to cut at least £1 million a year for the next three years has also been made.

Leader of the council, Cllr John Burden (Lab), told his cabinet on Monday he had received plenty of good ideas from the public already, and he would welcome more.

Among ideas being considered are Sunday and night-time parking charges, and raising prices for various services.

The aim is to avoid as many job losses as possible, though five council jobs will go by the new year, the cabinet members agreed.