Police say their officers cannot sanction illegal parking

The complaints follow Sunday's game against Aldershot at Stoke's Britannia Stadium on Sunday.

Many people said they had already paid for parking, but discovered the car parks were full or poorly signposted.

But Staffordshire Police and Stoke City Council say it was made clear that any illegal parking would not be tolerated.

BBC Radio Shropshire has been flooded with calls since the match.

Keith Bailey is among more than 30 fans facing a �60 fine.

He says the authorities were heavy-handed: "I've written to Stoke parking and security section pleading leniency and a bit of common sense to prevail considering the circumstances surrounding the incident."

Sean Fogarty, breakfast producer for BBC Radio Shropshire, said: "The reason why we took an interest was that there were too many calls for it to be a coincidence.

"The most stringent reports were of people turning up having paid for car parks and finding them full or not being able to find them because they were so badly signposted.

Simply to say they weren't aware is not going to be a justifiable defence Steve Tams, Stoke City Council

"They were asking police 'where can we park?' and were told 'You'll be fine up there on the grass verge' so they parked and then they came back to find they had parking tickets."

According to the city council's assistant director for highways and transportation, Steve Tams the motorists have the right to appeal but said success was unlikely.

"They should write to the city council and we will review everyone individually," he said.

"But simply to say they weren't aware is not going to be a justifiable defence."

Local residents

Chief Inspector Graeme Drayton denied police officers had allowed fans to park illegally.

"We issued clear advice in the run up to the match that supporters should travel by coach and that parking was limited at the stadium, but that those travelling by car should park legally and considerately to local residents.

"Our officers were briefed about the parking restrictions around the stadium and have no powers to sanction illegal parking."