NEARLY £500,000 is set to be spent on electronic signposts in a bid to attract shoppers to Fareham's Market Quay leisure complex.

So-called "mobile motorists" are being targeted by state-of-the art signs to inform drivers of car parking on routes into the town.

It is hoped the multi-million pound development, due to be completed December 2002, will rival the newly-opened Gunwharf Quays complex in Portsmouth and WestQuay in Southampton city centre.

Leader of Fareham Borough Council Sean Woodward said: "We gave the go-ahead for this sort of money to be spent so motorists will be encouraged to come to Fareham and will know exactly where to go in order to shop at Market Quay.

"We are spending £10,000 on signage to make sure drivers are aware of the alternative parking while Market Quay is under construction and a further £427,000 on electronic signposts to advise motorists where the parking is when it is complete

"We are hoping to have electronic signposts at every entrance to the town so the message will definitely be "Come to Fareham."

Developers are set to begin work in early September on the massive £30m complex that is to be built on the current Market site and Westbury car parks in the town centre.

But despite losing 639 parking bays, motorists are assured there will be ample parking in the town's under-used car parks.

Head of engineering and transportation Andy Viccars said surveys on coping with the parking demand have been carried out.

Planners have only allowed space for 280 new car parking spaces once Market Quay is built despite an expected increase in shoppers.

Mr Viccars said surveys have shown that Fareham would not become gridlocked once the development, set to house a gym, multi-screen cinema, retail outlets and bars, is built.

He said: "The council-commissioned survey showed our existing car parks would cope with the traffic. "