MOTORISTS have been warned not to park alongside an approach route to a city's railway station on safety grounds.

Commuters returning to their cars on verges off the road, leading from Framwelgate Peth to Durham Station, found notices attached, on Wednesday evening, warning them against using it for parking.

The road, just off the entry point to the Durham Light Infantry Museum and Durham Art Gallery, in Aykley Heads, forms the approach to the station's rear parking area.

Parking is forbidden on the road, signified by double yellow lines, but motorists have been using the adjoining grass verges.

With the onset of autumn and wetter weather it is feared the verges could become muddy hazards to both pedestrians and other road users.

Durham County Council's traffic manager, John McGargill, said: "The road is an emergency access road to the railway station and should be kept clear.

"It also serves the station car park, but it belongs to the county council.

"We're encountering problems with people parking their cars on the grass verges of the road.

"We've placed letters on their windscreens politely asking them not to park there.

"The grass verges are being destroyed and have to be repaired at council tax payers' expense.

"We have said that if people ignore our request not to park there we will have to take action which could include putting up fences to protect the verges.

"At this stage, however, we have simply requested people not to park there and flagged up that if they continue to ignore this request, we will take action."

Commuters are advised of alternatives by using the city's park-and-ride system, with stops just five minutes walk from the station.

GNER, which operates the station, recently added an extra 150 spaces to the parking area, but charges for all-day parking rose to £8 in July last year.

A GNER spokesman said the all-day parking facility is, "primarily aimed at" long-distance travellers and is not intended as a favourable option for commuters on more local routes, although season tickets are available for regular users.

The request appeared, initially, to have enjoyed the desired effect, as there were virtually no vehicles parked on the approach road yesterday.