A STANFORD couple have warned drivers to be wary of entering the car park at the town's rail station as they will be charged - even if they just drive in and out!

James Dowdall's partner Tammy dropped him off at the station this morning (Friday, 31 January) and drove into the car park, used the turning area and then drove out.

Fortunately as she exited she noticed someone complaining and on arrival home checked the c2c website and registered on the parking site where her parking ticket for £6.60 was ready and awaiting payment.

Had she not checked she might have been liable for a much larger penalty fine.

The car park, which has 66 spaces, is operated by NCP and was upgraded to a cashless system of payment, with cameras in place late last year.

James said: "My partner dropped me off at the train station this morning, she wasn't even the car park more than two minutes. She literally went down to the mini-round and came out.

"Thurrock Council have got rid of the drop off point that used to be there but now there is nowhere to drop off safely without causing a traffic hazard without paying.

"It's absolutely ridiculous.

"I wouldn't mind my train was at 8.25 she had left the car park before I had even managed to cross the road to the platform at 8.15 so the timing on the camera is wrong as well!"

Details of parking charges are on the NCP site, accessible via the red button below.