A cash-strapped student is fuming after her car was locked into a City of York car park during a late night shopping trip - landing her with a £7 taxi fare and a £35 fine.

Nadine Khalil, 21, of Bridge Close, Haxby, went Christmas shopping on Thursday with her boyfriend and parked her car in the Piccadilly car park thinking it would be safe to return after the shops shut at 9pm.

What she did not know was that the car park was being closed at 8.30pm because the Coppergate Centre and Marks & Spencer were closing at 8pm.

Nadine, who is training as a physiotherapist at Sheffield University, says she is hard-up and the extra expense at Christmas is the last thing she needs.

She said: "I couldn't see any signs saying what time it shut.

"When we came back everything was locked up so we had to get a taxi home which cost £7 and I wasn't able to go back to university as I'd planned because I was getting the car back.

"Apparently five other cars got caught out in the same way as well.

"Considering I've got to buy Christmas presents and that's £35 gone, I'm not very happy."

Her aunt, Mary Broadhead, said: "Nadine was in BHS until 9pm and when she got back the car park was locked.

"Surely when the shoppers are encouraged to stay out until 9pm you would think the council would make sure the car parks were open until then as well.

"We rang the car park today and apparently there were signs up but they're on the doors and when the doors are open you can't see them."

Bill Bird, who is in charge of City of York car parks, said: "The information I had been given is that the shops shut at 8pm and we keep the car park open until 8.30pm.

"There are nine signs around the car park and one in the entrance which clearly state the closing time.

"Out of 276 cars which were there at 7.45pm 271 cars left on time.

"We liaise with the manager of the Coppergate Centre as to when the car park's open.

"We get cars locked in most nights even when it's normal shopping times."

A spokesman for City of York Council said the council would be happy to review the car park opening times if it received requests to do so from shops opening later.

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