JUSTICE has been done in a parking war involving a former magistrate.

“Misleading” signs at a Darlington car park saw Doreen Chamberlain saddled with a parking fine of £100.

Visiting the town centre to enjoy lunch with a friend, Mrs Chamberlain parked up at the privately-run Bondgate car park and was horrified when she returned to find a ticket on her windscreen.

Several large signs throughout the car park, operated by Vehicle Control Services Ltd (VCS), state in bold red lettering that car parking charges are 50p an hour – the fee automatically paid by Mrs Chamberlain.

Another sign stipulating a cost of £2.20 for the first two hours was overlooked by the Darlington woman who had presumed she was correct in paying 50p an hour.

She lodged an appeal with the car park’s owners, saying the misleading signs were in breach of consumer protection law and unfair trading regulations.

The initial appeal was rejected with VCS saying: “Our signs are fully compliant with the requirements as outlined within the Independent Parking Committee Code of Practice and we maintain that it is the driver’s responsibility to ensure they adhere to the terms and conditions of parking before deciding to leave the area.”

However, the parking ticket was overturned by the Independent Appeals Service who sided with Mrs Chamberlain in relation to the confusing signs.

Mrs Chamberlain is now warning others to be on their guard when using the car park, saying she believes many people may be out of pocket as a result of the car park’s misleading practises.

The 74-year-old said: “This is only the second parking ticket I’ve had in my life, I don’t make a habit of this.

“The car park had signs all over reading 50p per hour.

“I was in a rush so I just put £2 in believing it was enough for four hours – I was dumbfounded when I came back and found the ticket.

“I then realised there was a smaller sign detailing the actual charges but I had to look around for it.

“The signs are misleading and they should be taken down or covered up.

“I think it’s probably a money making exercise and I imagine a number of people have been taken in by this.

“It’s a good way of making a lot of money but it’s very misleading.”