Plans to give pantomime staff free parking permits have been criticised by a politician, who said it will "cause chaos" in Rickmansworth.

Cast, crew members, volunteers and chaperones will be all be able to pick up a "plastic panto permit" which will allow them to park in any car park in Rickmansworth during the production of Aladdin at Watersmeet.

But Councillor David Sansom, conservative representative for Rickmansworth Town, accused the authority of being "short sighted" and urged  fellow councillors to find another solution, with the idea of running a bus service from the Aquadrome being mooted as a potential alternative.

Councillor Sansom said: "There is always a problem with car parks in Rickmansworth at Christmas. 

"This year, we do not have the parking that we used to have at the Long Island Exchange where people could pay a small fee and park up but that does not exist anymore and that has put more pressure on the car parks.

"Shoppers would have got two hours in a parking space and that space might get used five or six times throughout the day, but if one space is used by a staff member all day, that will be a problem."

"If all the staff have taken the parking, as far as the shoppers are concerned, how long do you wait until you go somewhere else?

"The shops need to have a good Christmas."

Aladdin took to the stage last Friday, with Luke Roberts as Aladdin and Nigel Pivaro as Abanazar and the show will continue until New Years Eve.

But Councillor Martin Trevett, lead member for housing, planning and transport stressed permits would be spread across all the car parks and leaders within the administration have rejected proposals which would have seen staff use the same car park.

He said: "That will not be happening, but there are up to 50 plastic permits which can be issued at any one time, sometimes there might be five, ten or 40 permits being issued at a given time.

"There are not 50 people using all the bays all of the time and these permits at any car park in Rickmansworth.

Councillor Trevett added that one of the reasons the administration decided not to place all the staff in one car park was to maximise the number of places available for shoppers during the High Street.