BUSINESS park bosses have been attacked for 'extorting' money from motorists after setting up 'spy' cameras to catch people parking on their land.

The first people who left their cars on the Lome-shaye Business Village Estate, Nelson, knew of the fine was when they got a £90 penalty through the post.

One motorist has told how she racked up six tickets, which go up to £150 if not paid within 28 days, although parking bosses later cancelled four of them.

Business landlord Bizspace, which has operated the scheme since June for its tenants' 60 spaces, uses automatic number plate reading technology to catch motorists out.

The cameras check registrations of cars against those permitted to park in the area and flags up any unauthorised vehicles.

If the ANPR has problems recognising the registration, parking wardens take pictures of the car with a digital camera.

Motorists are then given five minutes' grace before their details are obtained through the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency for a £2.50 fee, and the penalty sent to their homes.

Bossess of S&B Parking, which runs the parking scheme on behalf of Bizspace, said they stopped putting tickets on windscreens after their three wardens experienced five incidents of "serious violence", including one being "run over".

They said the charges were legal, fair, and reflected the costs of running the enforcement scheme. But following the complaints, S&B has agreed to put up additional signs to warn motorists.

Police said they were investigating 16 complaints about the scheme but said, at this stage, it appeared to be a civil, rather than criminal matter.

Pendle Council leader Alan Davies has pledged to bring the matter up at a council meeting to see what could be done over what he described as an "unacceptable" situation.

He said: "If the price of the tickets is £90, it is very excessive.

"Although people should be aware it is private parking, to my mind this is a money-making project and I think it is like extorting money."

The 128 business units that Bizspace rents out - which make up 90per cent of the business park - are next to Giddy Kippers, a children's party and play centre.

Matthew Schofield, 36, and his wife Suzanne, claimed up to 20 people a day were getting tickets for "innoce-ntly" parking in Bizspace land.

He said: "I am very angry. This has been affecting my business because some of my customers accidently park in the car park next to ours, which is owned by Bizspace.

"If it was fair and just it would be okay, but it's not. It feels like a money-making excercise."

A woman, who did not want to be named, but works for a firm on the business park, racked up six £90 fines without realising it between June 28 and July 16.

Although four were later cancelled, she said: "It was so annoying."

Mother-of-two Carolyn Ference, 42, of Halifax Road, Brierfield, said she was given a ticket on a weekend when she went to pick her children up from Giddy Kippers, and accidently parked in the wrong car park for eight minutes.

She said: "My children won't be going to Giddy Kippers again. I can't take the risk of getting another fine."

Patrick Owens, of Cornelian Street, Blackburn, picked up his mother Catherine Owens and five-year-old niece Milly Whittaker from Giddy Kippers on Saturday, July 14.

Mr Owens said: "I have spoken to Burnley police and they said there is nothing they can do and they told me to go to Trading Standards."

PC Mark Brooks said: "We have received numerous complaints about fines being issued.

"Our inquiries are continuing but, at this stage, it doesn't appear that a criminal offence has been committed and the matter is a civil one.

"Private companies can charge what they want for parking on private land."

The issuing of fines for parking on private land is currently unregulated. Businesses can set their own fees.

However, in October 2007 the DVLA will only release vehicle registration information to companies which are members of an Accredited Trade Association with a voluntary code that sets standard charges for parking on private land at £75 up to a maximum of £150.

The change in the law follows concerns over the DVLA making more than £6million in profit from selling access to the names and addresses of motorists for £2.50 a time to anyone who can demonstrate "reasonable cause".

Richard Smith, operations manager of S&B Parking, said they were issuing up to 14 tickets a week.

He said the scheme was not "extortion" and that the fees were at the "lower end" compared to other companies. Mr Smith said: "The fares are reasonable."

Matthew Brough, managing Director of S&B Parking, added: "As long as you leave within five minutes the ANPR won't issue a fine.

"I think the charges are fair and reflect the costs of running our scheme.

"We are not making millions of pounds. We are just trying to protect our clients' interests because parking is limited on the estate."