Drivers in Swindon are outraged after unexpectedly receiving parking fines for brief stops in a popular shop's car park.

Many people have reportedly been caught out when they pulled into the Home Bargains car park on Great Western Way outside of store opening hours - anytime outside of 8am to 9pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sundays.

David Crook vented his frustrations about his parking ticket on Facebook after stopping in the Parkingeye-managed car park for nine minutes on Wednesday, May 8, between 6.26am and 6.35am.

He said: “I needed to pull in to use my phone as I was on my way to a house I just bought and was expecting a 7am delivery. It was the nearest and safest place to stop.

 “I have appealed [the fine], but it can take 28 days for them to respond. I only have 14 days to pay the discounted fine (£60). After that, it’s £100.”

Paula Sanford was also issued a fine by Parkingeye and paid the £60 to avoid a higher penalty after realising her mistake.

She said: “I occasionally pick up a colleague there to save her from having to take the bus.

“I’d seen the signs, but it just hadn’t registered that I’d be liable for a fine when the shop was closed. I should have read the signs properly.”

Some people advised the motorists to ignore the parking ticket completely, whereas others recommended boycotting the store altogether.

One woman commented: “Surely you’d need to enter the car park to read the terms and conditions of parking there?

"You wouldn’t have known you would be fined until you’ve already entered and it’s too late.”

A Parkingeye spokesperson said: “The car park at Home Bargains Swindon is monitored by ANPR camera systems and has 27 prominent and highly-visible signs that give motorists clear guidance on how to use the car park responsibly.

 “The rules are in place to prevent any anti-social behaviour and parking abuse as signage throughout clearly states this.

 “The motorist parked in the car park on May 8th outside of the permitted hours and therefore correctly received a parking charge.

 “Parkingeye operates a BPA (British Parking Association) audited appeals process, which motorists can use to appeal their parking charge.

 “Our correspondence provides clear advice and guidance on how motorists can use our appeals process to highlight any mitigating circumstances.”