Queues for shoppers trying to find a parking space at John Lewis department store in High Wycombe – the busiest in the country - could be a thing of the past after the retail firm applied to add over 200 bays.

With the busy store on Holmers Farm Way admitting spaces can become "stretched" at peak times, the new plans will create 208 new places on a disused council BMX track next door.

The partnership said the plans will ease the crush for eager shoppers, which has become worse since the store expanded its shop floor last year to include a clothing department.

Problems surrounding on-street parking have also increased in recent months, with the nearby main road acting as an impromptu overflow for customers.

A planning statement said: "The John Lewis store at High Wycombe is the busiest department store in the John Lewis portfolio.

"Consequently, the current customer car parking provisions at the store are often stretched during peak times, causing severe disruption and impacting upon the customer experience.

"There are some known issues with uncontrolled on-street parking."

The new parking will take the form of a new surface level car park to the west of the store, and a raised decking over the top of the new zone.

New "less abled" spaces will be created at the front of the shop near the entrance.

John Lewis staff, known as partners, will also have somewhere to go under the plans after a lease on their adjoining staff car park ran out.

However, New Year’s shoppers will have to struggle on through this January as Wycombe District Council is not due to rule on the plans until March.