BUSINESSES in Darlington town centre are blaming over-zealous traffic wardens for a terrible day's trade.

Caf owner Frank Suhabolnik said mean-spirited traffic wardens issued tickets to dozens of cars belonging to Christmas shoppers parked in Darlington's Market Square on Sunday.

Takings at Mr Suhabolnik's business, Yankee Frank's Caf, were down by half on Sunday, he said, because potential customers were leaving the town after receiving £30 fixed penalty notices.

He said: "There were people in tears of rage, vowing never to come back to Darlington town centre. Normally on a Sunday people can park in the town centre no bother.

"But yesterday, after inviting people to come into town and shop on a Sunday in the run-up to Christmas, the traffic wardens were out in force, dozens and dozens of people were ticketed."

He said: "It was ridiculous. So hostile to people coming into the town.

"If they can't park there let's say so. It was so unfair when they normally can without any problem."

Mr Suhabolnik said that anyone who received a parking ticket will be given a free lunch at Yankee Frank's Caf if they return to the town.

But Acting Sergeant Dave Wray, of Darlington police, said that anyone who received a ticket would have been parked illegally.

He said that the wardens would have waited for owners to return to their vehicles to give them the benefit of the doubt and try to educate them about parking sensibly.

"People have been able to park illegally for so long they think it is their right. We warned most businesses in the town centre to let them know we would be looking at the parking situation."

"People don't park sensibly or safely, they block dropped kerbs, block roads and cause access problems.

"We have had complaints from Darlington Association on Disability, other groups and shopkeepers, about people not being able to get into the town centre because of this atrocious parking.

"We have a responsibility to ensure the town centre is a safe environment for all users. People were parking whereever they wanted, and we had to act."

He said shoppers can park in the town centre car parks without charge on Sundays in the run-up to Christmas.