OUR story about a controversial private car park near Sports Direct in Darlington has attracted a flood of comments.

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.

Here are some of our reader's comments from Facebook:

Debs Wood-Ives: We went over by a minute once, no ticket or 1st letter, then suddenly a letter 3 months after saying we had to pay £160 nearly... they wouldn't back down, complete horrible people on the phones aswell and accuse you of lying about not receiving initial penalty letter. 

Glynis Alderson: Cost us 55 quid wording not plain to understand for disabled parking was only in the store for 10 minutes.

Jo Cunnington: We got a ticket last year for putting two letters of our registration the wrong way round. I contested it and was able to send them a copy of the ticket which clearly matched the time but they would not accept this and said it’s was our responsibility to ensure correct details were entered.

Barbara Dixon-Dawson: I will never park there after hearing of the way people have been treated. Best course of action is that everyone boycotts the car park . Empty car park = no revenue.

Kathy Madden: You would think Sports Direct would do something as I've stopped using the store as need to pay just to run in and out of store, after getting a £90 fine to collect a £10 pair of kids trainers.

Coleen Smith Jenkinson: I'll never ever park here again after I got a ticket, I always go out of town shopping where there's free parking now, then you don't have to worry about going over your time.

Dave Skerrett: Parking should be free in town centres. It would bring shops back to the town. I find it better to go to the Metro Centre or Teesside Park. Loads of shops and free parking.

Ash Raine: Parking charges are disgusting anyway! Darlington council should be ashamed by bringing in Sunday charges! Everything we do we get charged to do it.

Mandi Allen: I paid them over £300 in the end as was worried about my credit rating if I didn't pay it - since found out they can't enforce their fines!

Wendy Slack: Don’t pay them or respond to any letter no matter how genuine they sound. Three years and they only just stopped sending letters. It’s private land not council and will cost them to pursue you!

Philip Kelly: Don’t pay these people, remember they are not fines they are just issuing you with an invoice!  Had umpteen letters from these for parking, everyone in the bin.

Paul Davidson: You twist only when you get a ticket. You know it’s pay and display make sure uyou get back in time. I do and had no tickets.