A Bournemouth firm using Ringwood's long-stay car park as a "park and ride" pick-up point for its workers has caused outrage in the market town.

Traders and councillors are furious that, every day, J P Morgan buses in dozens of workers who leave their own vehicles in the free public car park, robbing Ringwood of valuable spaces - particularly on the frantic market day of Wednesday.

But the company, formerly Chase Manhattan, has promised to re-think its troublesome transport policy.

The problem was highlighted by town Cllr Steve Wright, who said the abuse of the system was "immoral and anti-social".

He added: "When I visited to view the situation at 7.45am on Wednesday, I found there were very few spaces left - not because it was market day, because there were hardly any spaces taken in the short-stay car park.

"There are lots of people looking for spaces, and traffic and pollution around the town has increased. These people are putting their problem onto everyone else."

New Forest District Council this week announced a major consultation exercise into its growing traffic problems which could result in the return of parking charges, but customer services manager John Bull said J P Morgan was not breaking any current regulation.

"It's part of the transportation plan not to drive to office premises if possible, but unfortunately it seems to be causing a problem," he said.

However, the company's communications manager Dorcas Williams said: "Now we have been made aware of the problem and the impact it's having, we are looking into alternative pick-up points."