A 'DISGRUNTLED' local may be behind a vigilante campaign to stop people parking their cars near a Lake District park.

Over the last year tourists and residents have returned to their cars parked at the bridge entrance to Rothay Park in Ambleside to see the words 'no parking' scratched into the side of their vehicles, or the words spray painted on the ground near by.

Lakes Parish Council was due to discuss the problem at its monthly meeting last night and Cumbria Police is urging anyone with information to come forward.

Jamie Stanley works at Cunningham's clothes shop in Ambleside. He often parks at the site, where it is legal park, so he can walk his son through the park on the way to nursery at Tiddlywinks before going to work.

His car was scratched on January 27 this year, as well as on another occasion last year.

"This has been going on for more than a year and a half. Something must be done," he said.

He said parking in Ambleside was 'difficult' so often the road 'is the only option'.

"But somebody obviously doesn't want people parking there," he told The Westmorland Gazette. "I once came back to find somebody had scratched all along my car.

"Somebody also keeps putting traffic bollards in the way there."

He said a lady visiting on holiday was left in tears after her BMW was etched with the words 'no parking'.

"It is not good for tourism," said Mr Stanley. "These people won't be coming back. It effects me on a daily basis as well. I don't know if I am going to come back to find my car scratched."

He added: "Police have been leafleting around the area and are investigating."

Lakes Parish Council clerk Michael Johnson said it was aware of the problem but added: "It is difficult to see what the parish council can do, but we are going to see where we can go with it. It is obviously a big problem.

"It is probably some disgruntled local person who doesn't like people parking there.

"It is an unrestricted area though. People come in and use it all the time."

He added: "It is sometimes used by motor homes and campervans which sometimes stay there for weeks. This causes anguish among locals. It seems as though somebody is taking this anguish a little further."

A spokesperson for Cumbria Police said: "This is an issue which has been on-going for quite some time, with sporadic reports of incidents of cars being damaged of the past year or so.

"Each such report is investigated and we are also working with partner agencies regarding the issue of parking in this area.

"We would continue to urge anyone with knowledge of such offences or who has information which may assist to contact police."