PAY-and-display parking meters near Poole's beaches and harbour are being covered up and 44 parking fines torn up after the council discovered it can't charge for parking.

And the controversial introduction of winter charges at the town's beach car parks has also been caught up in the confusion over a temporary legal loophole.

The muddle is due to the late appearance of a legal notice informing the public of the new charges - meaning they are not binding until November 10.

The council is now covering up roadside meters along Shore Road and Banks Road but maintains it can still charge for parking in beach car parks, although no fines will be issued until November 10.

It is thought £2,000 has already been collected from the car parks and meters since October 1 when a new winter charge of 50p and £1 was introduced.

Previously winter parking was free.

The council has to refund £1,320 to cover the 44 cancelled parking fines.

The mistake comes only days after Lib-Dem councillors criticised the council for building a "war chest" of money from car parking charges - which exceeded expectations in the first 22 weeks of the financial year by £101,000.

Cllr Philip Eades said: "I I would like anyone who has been given a penalty notice since October 1 to contact me. It is a shambles because this was highly controversial in the first place."

Cllr Eades wants all money collected since October 1 to be handed to the mayor's charity appeal.

Cabinet transport portfolio holder Cllr Ron Parker said a decision on whether to give the money collected to charity would need to be taken by the council's transportation advisory group.

Jim Bright, head of transportation services, said: "This error is deeply regrettable but I hope it can be seen in the context of the thousands of correctly advertised traffic regulation orders that are dealt with."

First published: October 23