A KENDAL pay and display car park has come under fire with one visitor claiming it is designed to deceive.

Richard Webster, 66, from Formby, was furious after being given a parking ticket in what he thought was a free museum car park.

He said: "We were going to the Abbot Hall Museum and Art Gallery and turned into Peppercorn Lane, saw the art gallery and parked.

"As we turned into Peppercorn Lane there was a sign saying parking short term but nothing about pay and display."

The confusion occurred because a van had parked obscuring the pay and display machine and Mr Webster did not see any other signs that indicated he needed to pay.

Mr Webster was livid when he noticed the ticket because he felt he had done nothing wrong. He said: "If this is what happens I would not go anywhere near Kendal again. It would put me off and I would speak to friends and say do not come here, it is appalling behaviour."

Staff at the museum were also concerned because it could deter visitors.

Sandy Kitching, from the museum, said: "It has become a problem recently. The council resurfaced the car park but what they did was take down all the signs saying it was a pay and display car park.

"It's getting very confusing and we have got a major exhibition drawing in huge crowds. What we don't want is a PR disaster."

South Lakeland District Council, which is responsible for the car park, says it will look at the situation.

Speaking about the Peppercorn Lane site, parking development manager Morris Brundrett said: "What we will do is look at the possibility of putting another sign up. That is not to say that it's not adequately signed but some times you have to adopt an approach to cut down any risk."