FURIOUS residents face fines of £50 each for parking their cars outside their homes on a bank holiday.

People living in Oaklands Road, Bexleyheath, say they were astonished to find penalty notices on their cars as they came out of their homes on the Spring Bank Holiday Monday.

Civil servant Michael McMullan, 45, says he has lived in the road for seven years and has never known parking tickets to be levied on a bank holiday before.

He said: "Lots of my neighbours have lived here longer than I have and they were shocked too."

Because it is so close to Bexleyheath town centre, Oaklands Road has parking permits in part of the road and a single yellow line in the rest.

Parking restrictions are from 8.30am until 5.30pm.

Mr McMullan said: "We have always parked in the street on Sundays and bank holidays."

He is angry with Bexley Council and added: "It has lulled us into a false sense of security.

"It is like a form of entrapment and all for the sake of a few pounds."

Mr McMullan said he and his neighbours had spoken to Bexley Council's parking office.

He claims the office admitted the council had not advertised the bank holiday parking restrictions as it had in the past.

He said: "The office told us it was entitled to issue the tickets."

A council spokesman said parking wardens have been on patrol every day except Christmas Day and Easter Sunday since 1995.

She said: "While a reduced number of parking attendants patrol on bank holidays, anyone parking on the footway, in disabled bays or on yellow lines may get a Penalty Charge Notice.

"Parking on meters, pay and display areas and car parks is free on those days."

She said the residents could appeal against their tickets if they wished.

Mr McMullan says he will not pay his £50 fine.