Why some shoppers were asked to pay £6 to park in a Harborough car park - while others got it for free

And other motorists were stunned to be handed free tickets by a faulty machine at Sainsbury’s car park on Saturday (Jan 4).

Cllr Phil Knowles, leader of Harborough District Council’s Opposition, said: “I witnessed this at first hand.

“Shoppers were very unimpressed at being asked to pay £6 to park their car and shocked that a second machine was giving free tickets.

“People were left confused to say the least.”

The standard charge at the council-run site is £1 for up to two hours and £2.50 for up to four hours.

“While I’m pleased to hear that the problem is being resolved it’s clearly acceptable to ask how the blunder happened in the first place,” added Cllr Knowles.

A council spokesman said: “This was a technical oversight on the part of the supplier who have now remedied the issue.

“We apologise for any inconvenience.”