TESCO customers who have wrongly received parking tickets for using a long-stay car park are being urged to contact the store to have their tickets ripped up.

Dozens of customers received letters from Tesco and Highview Parking - the company it employs to monitor its car parks - earlier this month claiming their vehicle had parked at the Haddington supermarket, on the town’s Calder’s Lawn, beyond the three-hour time limit in the lead-up to Christmas and issuing a fine.

However, a number of vehicles had actually parked in the East Lothian Council-owned long stay car park, which although accessed via Tesco is not administered by it. It has spaces for about 120 vehicles, and no time restrictions.

A spokesman for Tesco said: “We are really sorry for both any confusion and where a parking ticket has been issued in error.

“We are working to rectify the situation.

“Customers who believe they have been wrongly issued with a parking ticket should contact the store, who will be happy to help put the situation right.”

Customers who believe they were wrongly given a ticket can speak to customer services in store or contact 0800 505 555.