FURIOUS residents today blasted council chiefs after being mistakenly told they faced a five-day parking ban during Royal Ascot at York.

People living in Bishopthorpe Road received a leaflet telling them parking would be banned outside their homes from 8am on Tuesday, June 14, to 8pm on Saturday, June 18.

City of York Council said they could apply for a permit to stay in a car park close to the nearby Millennium Bridge, but would have no access to their vehicles between 8pm and 9am when the 200-car site would be locked. Residents claimed this would effectively leave them under curfew.

Resident Peter Biller, 60, a lecturer at the University of York, said: "If we want to drive to work, or come home late, or even take children or elderly people to the hospital, we will be unable to between 8pm and 9am."

Ruth Thompson Van Gogh, who lives with her daughter Joni Southall, Joni's husband and their daughter, said: "What about the people who have to be at work for 8am or those who return home in the wee hours?"

But the authority said today the parking ban would only apply from 9am until 7pm each day, after which people would again be able to park in the street.

The opening hours for the car park would be from 7am until 8pm, said Coun Ann Reid, executive member for transport.

She said that would give people an hour to move their vehicles from the car park if they wanted to park on the street overnight.

Council leader Steve Galloway said the hours of enforcement for the street parking ban had been widely reported in the Press and broadcast media. "We are happy to clarify this issue and hope residents will go on to enjoy Royal Ascot," he said.

Ruth Thompson Van Gogh said today the leaflet had caused a lot of unnecessary distress and anxiety to residents. "Steve Galloway should publicly apologise for this," she said.

She said the council should, as a matter of urgency, send out a leaflet to all residents, informing them accurately of the times of operation of the parking ban.

A City of York Council spokeswoman, said: "We can only apologise to residents of Bishopthorpe Road for any concern that the leaflet has caused. Unfortunately, the incorrect information has been given out. Residents in Bishopthorpe Road can park outside their homes between 7pm and 9am during Royal Ascot At York week.

"Residents cannot park outside their houses during the day. The temporary car park will be in use between 7am and 8pm.

"A special Royal Ascot At York edition of the council's newsletter, Your City, will go out to all residents and businesses in the next couple of weeks and that will clarify all the relevant information."

Updated: 10:18 Tuesday, May 24, 2005