Car parks being used as car lots

The council said some vehicles were parked as if on a garage forecourt

A council has warned that public car parks are not car lots after a growing number of vehicles began appearing in central locations with For Sale signs.

Clackmannanshire Council has now threatened to impound the cars.

The authority said it was unclear whether it was individuals or local traders who were selling the vehicles.

A spokeswoman from the council said "The cars are arranged as if they were in a showroom. Some have been left for weeks."

The local authority warned that it was illegal for anyone to sell anything in a car park unless in connection with a charitable event or as part of a market.

'Standing by'

Mac West, the council's roads and transportation manager, said: "The number of cars we find for sale can range from one or two to seven or eight a week.

"Some of them are professionally lettered and one was parked at right angles across two bays to maximise the chance of a sale.

"It seems to be a recent phenomenon that these cars are parked in prominent town centre locations."

Mr West said the fact that the area's car parks were free could be contributing to the problem.

He added: "Some of the sellers are undoubtedly individuals but there are others who may be traders.

"I've already phoned a few and told them to move their vehicles or they'll be impounded.

"We have the contractors standing by."