The Arbroath Herald can reveal that Lidl have torn up the agreement which allowed the specialist car park minders, TPS Parking Solutions, to impose heavy 'fines' on over-long parkers at their Arbroath store.

And a spokesman admitted to us that the use of the national company was, with hindsight, using a sledge hammer to crack a nut. The cameras in the supermarket car park were switched off on Friday.

Lidl will now employ their own attendant to check that cars have not been left for hours to the detriment of customers.

A Forfar businessman, Phil Allen, Brantwood Grange Consultants, who has been taking a close interest in the situation, is hoping to recover parking charges, which he believes to be illegal, imposed by TPS.

He directed our attention to a website www.lawanswers.co.uk, which gives members of the public answers to legal questions.

A reader in Greenock asked about the legality of a 'fine' imposed by TPS, and received a reply which began: "There has been no offence committed and collecting the amount is unenforceable without the order of a court."

To another similar question the answer includes: "These 'charges' are alleged under contract law. What you have is an 'invoice' (which you can contest) from a private parking company who allege you have breached their terms and conditions by parking and/or overstaying on one of the sites they manage. It has no status in law and she could not be bound into the contract if (the person named] was not driving." (The Arbroath Herald accepts no responsibility for the legal accuracy of the replies.]

Mr Allen is keen to assist those who have paid their 'fine' to recover the money, and can be contacted on 01307 466890.

However, he paid tribute to the Lidl managing director. Mr Allen said: "I told him that he had been given incorrect legal advice, he checked what I had said, and he took the right action."