Jenny Chapman, MP for Darlington, has called on the Government to look again at the regulation of the private parking industry after dozens of motorists complained about getting “unfair” parking tickets from Smart Parking, the company behind the Sports Direct car park in Darlington.

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Last year, an 81-year-old was threatened with court action after overstaying his time in a car park by a minute.

Chris Wilson, another Darlington resident, was threatened with legal action on Christmas Eve in 2016 after overstaying his time in the car park, despite congestion caused by drainage work delaying him from leaving the site.

He said Smart Parking “didn’t listen ” to his reasoning, and he also claimed the terms and conditions he requested from the company are different from those on display in the car park.

Hurworth Parish Councillor Paul Walters criticised the “scaremongering” tactics used by Smart Parking after they issued him a £90 fine because his registration number did not correctly print on his ticket.

Ms Chapman said: “People are getting a real fright from these companies and being made to feel like criminals, after making, from what I can gather, a very small error.

“Indeed, many people who I’ve been in touch with me have sought to rectify the issue as soon as they knew it had become one but struggled to navigate the unclear and ambiguous complaints procedures these companies often have.

“It is clear to me that the regulation of the private parking industry needs to be looked at again by Government and I am encouraged that Parliament will get a chance to discuss this matter in February.

“Seventy-three per cent of motorists want to see a set of national minimum standards to clean up the act of the private parking industry, and so do I.”

The Northern Echo contacted Smart Parking, but did not receive a response.