A WOMAN fined after parking twice in one day at a Christchurch shopping park has slammed the 'scam' parking company in a bid to warn other shoppers.

Healthcare assistant Keri Ewins says she was shocked to discover she had been fined £85 after visiting Christchurch Retail Park at Bailey Drive, off Barrack Road earlier this month.

The 42-year-old from Lymington parked at the centre to visit Home Bargains on the morning of November 10, before attending a doctor's appointment in Lymington and doing the school run in the afternoon.

She then returned to the shopping park, which is near to her father's house, to go to Halfords.

But on Monday, she received a letter from Highview Parking saying she had been parked for six hours and forty four minutes.

Two pictures on the letter show her car entering the car park and leaving. Neither image show her car parked in a space.

"When I phoned them, they were so rude, saying I had to pay the £85. They said they didn't have the facilities to rewind the CCTV to see when I left in the morning and came back", Keri said.

"They also said that once you have been to the car park, you couldn't return within four hours.

"I mean what if I was an elderly person and forgot to get dog food or something and then had to go back? They said that was breaking the law. It's just ridiculous.

"I've been back to the park and taken a picture of the signs. All they say is that you can't park for longer than three hours and return within one."

Keri added: "It also doesn't allow for if you are dropping someone off or picking them up.

"I can prove I wasn't there for six hours because of the appointments I had.

"It's just a total scam. £85 is a lot of money; I'm just not paying it.

"If they want to take me to court they can. I just wonder how many other people have been victim to this?

"I'm really worried vulnerable people have had the same happen to them and hope this might warn people."

The Daily Echo has approached representatives for Christchurch Retail Park and Highview Parking for comment.

No response had been received at the time of going to press.