When people hire a space in a car park for a certain period of time they must expect to face the possibility of a penalty if they overstay their welcome. Most accept that and do their best to return to their vehicle on time.

However, sometimes people are delayed for one of a whole range of reasons. If the cause of their late return is beyond their control, it isn't too much surely for them to expect whoever is running the car park to show a little understanding.

That, though, appears to have been in short supply at the Haworth car park where motorists returning to their cars even a minute over the limit have had it clamped and been obliged to pay £40 to have it freed.

This rigid interpretation of the rule has generated a great deal of negative publicity for Haworth, one of Bradford district's major tourist attractions. It might be a perfectly legal way to carry on but it isn't a friendly one. People who have had that sort of bad experience are reluctant to return and warn off their friends and acquaintances as well.

Keighley MP Ann Cryer says that legislation is going through which will make it more difficult for clampers. Meanwhile, for Haworth's sake it is to be hoped that the change to a day-long charge proposed by the car-park owner for the Bank Holiday weekend, although it will in fact cost all motorists more and short-term parkers considerably so, leads to fewer misunderstandings and consequently less ill-feeling - if only for a day or two.