A CAR clamping scheme to stop football fans parking illegally at a shopping centre is proving a success.

Sunderland Retail Park in Newcastle Road introduced the policy in February before Sunderland AFC's match against Liverpool. Fans who ignore the warnings have their cars clamped, with a £25 release fee.

The park, opposite the stadium, offers 200 match spaces to supporters for £5 per space, but some fans had been posing as shoppers to beat the charge.

Clamping will continue, with a monitored scheme which allows limited parking for fans on match days