A pub landlady says she has been forced to put up signs warning people they will be fined if they use her car park for all-day parking.

Helen Thornton, who runs the Ship and Castle in Congresbury with partner Damian, has installed signs at the pub car park warning people they could be issued with a ticket if they leave their vehicles there without permission.

Miss Thornton, who took over the pub in November, says people are leaving their vehicles in the car park to go shopping or on day trips – leaving no space for her customers.

Miss Thornton, 33, said: "We are paying an awful lot of money each week to rent these premises.

"We are a business, not a charity, and I need to make sure there are enough spaces available for my customers.

"Since we reopened and were refurbished, 90 per cent of our business is from the restaurant and many people drive here.

"The other day I had a 50th birthday party here for 85 people and some of them could not find a space in the pub car park."

Miss Thornton has issued parking permits to staff at local shops to use the car park so it frees up space in Broad Street for shoppers.

"I want to be flexible and if a group wants to use the car park and I have no functions on, I will try and help," added Miss Thornton.

Congresbury Parish Council also rents eight spaces in the car park for villagers and visitors to use.

It is planning to mark out the spaces it rents so people know they can park there.

Parish council chairman Peter Sewell said: "Eyebrows have been raised among villagers about the signs going up at the car park.

"There has always been the general feeling in the village that this is a general car park for people to use.

"However, this is not really the case and I understand there have been occasions where pub customers have been unable to park

"At the moment it does not stipulate which spaces are rented by the parish council and we are planning to make this clear by marking our bays out.

"In the meantime, if a community group or individual needs to use the car park, it would be wise to check that it's OK first."