Visitors to an Abingdon conservation area have been stung £130 by clampers — complaining warning signs are not obvious.

Park Road and Park Crescent, together with neighbouring Albert Park, are owned by the Christ's Hospital charity, and only residents have the right to park in the private roads.

At the beginning of the month, a residents' parking scheme was introduced to the area, meaning that only those with a permit can park on the roads.

But motorists say the signs are not clear enough.

Most of the signs, which are approximately the size of an A5 sheet of paper, are displayed on every third lamp post.

Vicky Grice, 27, took her two children Josh, seven, and Scott, five, to play in Albert Park last Tuesday.

When she returned to her car, Miss Grice, of Thornhill Walk, found she had been clamped and was expected to pay £130.

Her fiancé Martin Roberts said: "I was told that the new parking law surrounding the park was two weeks old and highly publicised. But I am yet to meet anybody who knew of the change."

Estelle Rossiter, of Saxton Road, and friend Chloe O'Keefe were clamped on the same day.

Customer account manager Ms Rossiter, 25, said: "We were just going for a run, got there at about 6.30pm, and they clamped the car at 6.34pm."

David Barrett, the charity's senior governor, said the signs were installed according to the rules of the planning authority.

We contacted Parking Control Management, the clamping firm, but received no response.