TIME is being called on illegal parking blighting large areas of central Middlesbrough.

More than 500 cars are using cleared development land in Gresham as free parking every day, causing headaches for nearby residents and businesses.

The vehicles are churning up the grassed areas and spreading mud across footpaths and roads.

A water main has also been damaged, prompting Middlesbrough Council's decision to prevent access to the site, and point drivers to nearby legal parking.

Motorists will be given two weeks to find alternative arrangements, with plenty of spaces available in nearby car parks, and the Cannon Park park and ride servicing Teesside University.

The tariff structure of the Amber Street car parks will also be changed to offer a short-stay tariff.

Councillor Ashley Waters said: "I fully understand people looking for cheap and convenient parking, but this situation has got completely out of hand.

"There are clear ‘no parking' signs across the site, but people are simply ignoring them, and that's been causing massive problems for local residents and businesses.

"As ever, enforcement is a last resort so we're giving people two weeks to make alternative arrangements, and I'm grateful to those affected for their understanding and co-operation."