Local businessmen involved in the Whitley Bay and Tynemouth Guide 2009 have been given a free parking permit by North Tyneside Council for six months to allow them to distribute the guide.

Whitley Bay Chamber of Trade has a quirky S-Cargo van which they are using at various locations – including St Mary's Island and Beaconsfield car parks – to hand out the guide.

Bill Midgley, chamber of trade chairman, said: "The publication and distribution of 60,000 guides is a massive undertaking for us so it's great news whenever we are offered any form of assistance and I can safely say that this offer of free parking is very gratefully accepted.

"Chamber members are volunteering to take the vehicle out at weekends for promotion purposes and for North Tyneside Council to make such a generous offer to assist this promotion is very useful.

"This is a further example of Whitley Bay Chamber of Trade and North Tyneside Council working in partnership for the benefit of the town."

Garry Hoyle, parking manager, added: "The council is very supportive of the work undertaken by the Whitley Bay Chamber of Trade and we are move than happy to issue a permit to help with their promotion of these guides which contain lots of useful information for visitors to the area."

Only 12,000 of the S-Cargo model were made between 1989 and 1994 in the world, making it a rare sight.

Anyone interested in stocking the guide should contact (0191) 290 4541 or email info@whitleybaytynemouthguide.com