SEDGEFIELD racecourse officials have conceded they cannot cope with the parking created by record crowds attending bank holiday meetings.

On Monday, 5,047 people attended the races - 50 people short of the biggest attendance record.

The racecourse's general car park and overflow car park were both full, which resulted in drivers parking their vehicles on surrounding roads. Scores of cars were parked on grass verges around the Sands Hall roundabout and also lined the A689, A177 and the racecourse bypass leading into residential streets.

General manager Jim Allen said the racecourse was aware that parking was an issue and that it had been discussing it with police for several months.

He said: "We have 19 fixtures a year. We can cope with them all apart from the three bank holidays, where we simply don't have enough car parking on site.

"The crowd attendance on Monday caught us off guard because there was also racing on at Newcastle and Doncaster. The sunshine certainly played its part.

"The parking beyond our gates is out of our hands but we are trying to do something about it.

"We lease the overflow car park and we are looking at alternative arrangements for expanding the car park on the busier days. We also have been liaising with the police.

"We hold our hands up and we know parking is an issue but we are trying to do something about it."

On Monday, Durham Constabulary received one complaint from an off-duty police officer, from Humberside, who was concerned that the overflowing cars were dangerously parked.

A police spokesman said: "One complaint was received about the parking and police officers did inspect the area.

"Officers felt there was nothing in terms of vehicles causing an obstruction and there was no need to issue parking tickets."