MOTORISTS are being warned to stop leaving their cars on a private road alongside a Blackburn shoe trader - or face being clamped.

Drivers have been leaving their vehicles in Hart Street, which runs alongside the Tommy Ball's store, all day.

But the road ceased to be a public highway in the mid 1980s and is only meant to be used for the store's customers and deliveries.

This week a note was put on car windscreens warning drivers that clampers will be in operation from next Monday. Signs are also being put up warning about the restrictions.

The move is being seen as the latest sign of the problems caused by a lack of free parking in Blackburn town centre.

Raymond Goldstone, from the town's Chamber of Trade, today called for the council to urgently look into the problem - and set up a park and ride scheme.

In recent months motorists have tried parking on land behind the railway station, the old Northern Lights car park and Morrison's supermarket. But, as with Tommy Balls, bosses have quickly brought in either restrictions or the threat of clampers.

The scramble for parking arose because the council has made most streets in the town centre short-stay pay and display only and commuters have been trying to avoid bills of more than £5 for all day car parking on the few long-stay car parks. Mr Goldstone said: "It needs sorting out quickly.

"We believe there should be a park and ride scheme. They could park out of town and ride in for free."

No one from Tommy Ball's was available for comment.

The company is offering drivers the opportunity to park on one of their car parks for a fee of £10 per week.