CONTROVERSIAL parking tickets issued to motorists in York carried an advert on the back - promoting free parking at Monks Cross.

Now City of York Council says it recognises it was "not ideal" to advertise free parking, and it will vet such adverts more carefully in future.

The advert read: "Monks Cross shopping Park. Don't miss your weekly chance to win £50 worth of shopping from the selected stores below at York's popular out-of-town centre FEATURING 1,000 FREE PARKING SPACES!!"

Micklegate sub-postmaster Paul Abbott, who has been a leading campaigner against new on-street charges imposed by City of York Council in the street earlier this year, said he was staggered when he discovered the wording on the stickers issued to drivers in Micklegate.

He believed that, even though the charges were lower than in other streets, the sight of the meters had already deterred many motorists from parking to pop into local shops.

The adverts, carried on the back of tickets issued at machines at the side of the street, had done even more to discourage customers by actively encouraging them to shop out of town.

"This really rubs salt in the wounds," he said after raising the matter at a council meeting.

It came after the authority had indicated it wanted to see a regeneration of Micklegate.

A council spokeswoman said: "The adverts on the back of our parking tickets are arranged by an external contractor and help to offset the cost of implementing parking controls in York.

"In hindsight, we recognise that it's not ideal to advertise free parking spaces on the back of the tickets and we will be vetting adverts more carefully in the future."

Updated: 09:23 Saturday, October 02, 2004