Major changes are coming to a busy Kilmarnock town centre car park as a new business moves into the area. 

The Designer Rooms announced earlier this month that it was taking over the Poundstretchers building on Fowlds Street in March. 

The Ayrshire business is closing and merging its existing Kilmarnock and Irvine branches to form one larger store. 

However, the busy 80-space car park adjacent to the property will also be taken over by The Designer Rooms, and will be for the use of its customers only. 

Barriers have been put in place at the Queen Street (South) car park with one of the town's biggest parking facilities set to be taken under private control. 

The barrier is set to come into use from March 1, with The Designer Rooms set to open later this year. 

A spokesperson has now confirmed that the adjacent Marks and Spencer car park will be retained as public car parking.

They said: "The Ayrshire Roads Alliance wants to let local people and visitors to Kilmarnock know that the car park outside the existing Poundstretchers store will still be open for public use until March 1.

"After that date, the car park will be transferred to The Designer Rooms who will take on its operation and host 80 spaces for customers to the store when it opens in summer. Electric vehicle charging points will also be provided.

"Ayrshire Roads Alliance will still retain and manage the Marks and Spencer car park and the smaller car parking areas located in this area.

"New parking spaces have also been created at Sturrock Street, and work is currently under way to develop a new London Road car park near CentreStage.

"Pre-construction designs have been prepared for new parking at Grange Street and further spaces will be created on the site of the multi-storey car park once this has been demolished."