TESCO has apologised after shoppers at its Skipton store were led to believe they had to spend a minimum of £70 - or risk a fine.

Newly installed signs across the car park at the Craven Street store inform people of a ‘£70 parking charge’ .

The notices go on to say there is a two hour maximum stay in the car park, and no return in an hour; and also; ‘You must spend a minimum of £70 in store’.

Users of the car park, which is managed by Horizon Parking, are warned it is monitored by Automatic Numberplate Recognition (ANPR) cameras - a system also used by police - and /or patrolling wardens, while failure to comply with any of the ‘terms or conditions’ will result in a £70 fine.

One confused shopper who contacted the Craven Herald said enforcing a £70 minimum spend would leave the store empty of shoppers.

A spokesperson said both the mininmum spend and maximum stay of two hours was wrong and the signs would be changed as soon as possible.

“These signs in the car park of our Skipton store have been installed in error.

“While there is a three hour maximum stay at the car park, there is no minimum spend in store for customers to park there. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.”