APOLOGETIC townsfolk have wooed back angry visitors who had a nightmare experience in Dorchester – by treating them to a VIP day in the town.

Pam and David Rogers were given VIP treatment for the day, after writing an email of complaint about their recent bad experience of the county town.

It was the first time that the couple had ventured to Dorchester after living in Shipham in North Somerset for 25 years.

But they turned around and visited Sherborne instead because they couldn’t find anywhere to park on market day.

Mrs Rogers said: “We came in on the A37 and saw signs for the park and ride but they soon disappeared and we couldn’t find it.

“We tried two short stay car parks where people were queuing and were told by a car parking attendant that all the long stay spaces had gone too.

“So we pulled the plug on the day.”

Wishing to vent his spleen, Mr Rogers fired off an email to the Tourist Information Centre about his disastrous day in Dorchester.

He said: “We thought ‘how many people try and get to Dorchester and have given up?’ “I asked them if they thought Dorchester was a welcoming place to visit because I thought it wasn’t. I said that it’s taken 25 years for us to come here and it will probably be another 25 years before we come back.”

Stepping in to do some damage control was Phil Gordon of the Dorchester Business Improve-ment District, who arranged a day designed to change the couple’s mind.

He said: “It was awful to hear that someone had come to this place and hadn’t got as far as parking. I wanted to give them an enjoyable taster day of all Dorchester has to offer.

“Anyone who comes here is the best sales force the town has.”

The couple said they never expected to get such a friendly service from the town.

“It was like winning a competition,” Mr Rogers said.

Mrs Rogers said: “All we expected from the email was an apology. To take the time and trouble to invite us here for the day to do all this was very pleasing.”

Steve Woollard, West Dorset District Council’s technical services manager, said the authority was working to find a site for a larger park and ride for Dorchester.

He added: “We’re very sorry to hear about this couple’s experiences. Unfortunately, Wednesdays are always busy in Dorchester because it is market day and all our spaces do fill up.

“Coming from Yeovil there are already two signs telling motorists about the park and ride scheme – there is a large yellow sign as you approach Dorchester and one on the roundabout.

“However, we are limited as to how many signs we can put on the A37 and A35 because they’re managed by the Highways Agency.”