I HAVE recently returned from a weekend visit to York and, while I appreciate the quality and interest of what you have to offer, our visit was soured and I will never visit the city again.

The visit was made by three families on the weekend of August 27-30.

Because we were intending to visit the railway museum later in the day, we parked at the Leeman Road car park, owned by Euro Car Parks.

We bought tickets for a three-hour stay and went about our business.

We lost our way and were delayed in returning to the car park, and had exceeded our parking time by 18 minutes.

We found our cars had been ticketed and they indicated that the fine imposed for each of three vehicles was £70, reduced to £50 if settled within 14 days.

While I appreciate that some measure is necessary to maintain times in parking areas, I consider the imposition of a fine of this amount is punitive.

Brian R Martin,

Boundary Street,

Bedford,

Leigh, Lancashire.

Updated: 11:10 Monday, September 06, 2004