COUNCIL bosses have held up their hands and apologised after Christmas shoppers had their cars locked in a car park.

People visiting the late-night Christmas shopping event to see the town’s lights turned on were left fuming after car park attendants locked their cars in the Milton Road car park.

Marie Phillips, 32, who was one of ten shoppers affected, said: “I just thought I would go down and support the town – I took my son down and he got to see Santa.

“I went back to the car at about 6.45pm to find two people standing with children and a policeman. I asked what was happening and they said they had locked the car park.”

The police officer contacted Tendring Council in a bid to release the cars.

Lesley Pollard, chairman of the Harwich and Dovercourt Partnership and Town Team, came to the rescue.

Marie said: “The manager from Superdrug came along and let us all out and then had to relock the car park.

“I asked if they could leave it open for the other cars or leave a sign so they knew who to contact, but they said it would be breaking the law.

“Why on earth did they shut the car park?

“You come to support the town and then they do that and leave people unable to get their cars out.”

Peter Halliday, leader of Tendring Council, said: “We should have made arrangements for the car park to be open later and we can only hold our hands up to that.

“We also thank Lesley Pollard for going along with her key to let the vehicles out.”