A supermarket giant was today being told to remove controversial restrictions from a York car park.

Dozens of people who live and work in Acomb complained to the Evening Press and City of York Council after Morrisons put up signs warning motorists that its car park off Front Street had a two-hour limit, and was reserved for store customers and patrons of the neighbouring Acomb Working Men's Club.

The signs appeared earlier this month when the former Safeway store was reopened following a refurbishment, which also included a revamp of the car park and a reduction in the number of parking spaces.

Now the council has confirmed that it is the major owner of the car park, along with Morrisons and the club, who each own a smaller section of the land - and the authority had not been consulted before the recent changes were made.

A council spokeswoman said: "All three partners - the council, the working men's club and Morrisons - own various parts of the car park. Morrisons only owns a very small part of it - it is a public car park.

"The agreement that is in place between the council, Morrisons and the Working Men's Club basically means that the number of the parking spaces must be maintained and no time limit can be imposed without consulting all three partners.

"Clearly, Morrisons have breached that agreement by reducing the number of car parking spaces and imposing a short-stay restriction.

"Peter Evely, head of network management, is writing to them today giving them 14 days notice to remove the short-stay signs."

Resident Glynis Knaggs, 53, of St Stephen's Road, Acomb, said she had ignored the "bullyboy" restrictions.

She said: "Morrisons should never have been allowed to get away with this for so long. I hope they take the signs down quickly and it would be nice if Morrisons were big enough to apologise."

Alan Barkway, whose wife and daughter own Jasmine beauty salon, said local people had been so angered that a 200-name petition had been collected.

He said: "Once the signs are removed all the residents who have been concerned about it will be very happy."

Frank Healy, secretary of Acomb Working Men's Club, said: "We have no problem with people using the car park, just people abusing it."

Morrisons said: "We have not yet received any notification from the council. When we do, we will respond accordingly."

Updated: 10:27 Friday, June 24, 2005