A WOMAN has been ordered to pay £100 for parking in a seafront car park.

Andrew Farrelly had treated his daughter to an evening at the Movie Starr cinema in Eastern Esplanade, Canvey.

Believing parking was free after 6pm, the dad and his daughter parked for more than two hours.

Days later a notice from private company Parking Eye arrived ordering the owner of the Ford Fiesta, mum Jayne Farrelly, to pay £100.

The 36-year-old, of Hilton Road, Canvey said: “I’m gobsmacked – it’s turned out to be the most expensive cinema ticket ever. It’s ridiculous and I’m not the only one.

“My husband took my daughter to see the film at the Movie Starr and he thought after 6pm there is no charge. I came home to a £100 fine which could go down to £60 if I pay it in two weeks’ time.”

The car park is owned by Movie Starr and managed by Parking Eye. Using number plate recognition, Parking Eye catches motorists on camera.

It is believed a number of motorists have been caught out by the cameras.

Mrs Farrelly said: “I was livid when I saw how much and we are going to appeal it.

What are they even spending this money on?

“The car park is all cracked and bumpy and floods whenever it rains. They are charging people, fining people and they are not providing a satisfactory car park.”

The car park charges 24 hours a day, but customers at the cinema and snooker club can park for free as long as they enter their vehicle registration into terminals inside the businesses.

Charges were brought in after beachgoers took advantage of the free parking, leaving moviegoers with nowhere to park.

Movie Starr owner Shane Parkin added: “If a customer does get a ticket we will try and get the ticket cancelled.

So far the car park has not caused any major problems but we will do everything we can to cancel these tickets for them. Customer satisfaction is everything to us.”

A Parking Eye spokesman said: “Car park users enter into a contract to pay the appropriate amount for the duration of their visit or to not exceed free parking limits.

“A charge becomes payable if the terms and conditions of the car park are not adhered to and in this case the motorist overstayed by approximately two-and-a-half hours.

“Free parking is offered to patrons of Movie Starr cinema, Starr Snooker and VI Bowl by using the terminal at the reception. In this case, the car park user’s details were not entered into the terminal and a pay and display ticket was not purchased.

“We operate an audited appeals process and encourage people to appeal if they feel there are mitigating circumstances.

“We are yet to receive an appeal in relation to this case.”