PARKING wardens were last night accused of preying on Royal Mail customers at one of Oxford’s main collection offices.

Royal Mail customers have been landed with £90 tickets after finding parking spaces full at the East Oxford Delivery Office in Littlemore.

Politicians have vowed to intervene in the row after being contacted by angry Royal Mail customers.

One motorist said: “I wasn’t parked on the yellow lines when I went to collect a parcel from the Post Office.

“But I got a ticket placed on my windscreen for £90 within the space of two minutes of arriving. They are predatory and profiteering.”

He said it was a “disgrace” and called for something to be done.

Another ticketed driver said: “The parking attendant is standing out on the road and ticketing everyone who goes there. I was in the collection office for less than two minutes.”

The Nuffield Industrial Estate, off Sandy Lane West in Littlemore, is owned by property investment company Eskmuir Group.

The firm would not say if the UK Parking Control parking wardens were acting on its behalf but a spokesman added staff were “looking into the issue”.

Oxford East MP Andrew Smith said: “Obviously the parking attendants have got a job to do but I will be taking this up with UK Parking Control.

“The Post Office is a public service facility and this is an unsatisfactory situation. I have been down there myself to pick up post and it is very difficult to park. It puts people in an impossible position.”

The Royal Mail office car park in Ledgers Close has 17 spaces for members of the public, including two for disabled drivers.

But motorists said these were often full. All other parking spaces on the estate are for other businesses and their customers but staff there said overspill was also affecting them.

Lyn Stockford, of Sally Hair and Beauty Supplies, said: “Having the parking attendant is a good thing because it helps lorries get through.

“But it’s not fair on the Royal Mail customers that they can’t always park and I would like to see a bigger car park.”

Royal Mail said it did not hold figures for how many people used the delivery office or how much post it handled.

Oxfordshire County Council confirmed the estate was private land and not subject to public parking enforcement. It is also home to delivery company Yodel, PTS Plumbing Trade Supplies, TLC Electrical Distribution, City Plumbing Supplies, Transglobal Sports Ltd, Frenco Service Replacements Ltd, Sally Hair and Beauty Supplies and bakery Queen of Hearts.

The fines are £90, but are reduced to £50 if paid within 14 days.

Local county councillor Saj Malik also said he would write to UK Parking Control.

UK Parking Control spokesman Kate Harrison said: “We operate on Nuffield Industrial Estate to ensure that all tenants have full use of the parking facilities and that the access roads are kept clear for deliveries.

“The estate’s parking facilities have been taken up by unauthorised users for some time, which in turn was effecting the business of the tenants.”

Royal Mail spokesman Valerie Antoine said: “We would like to remind customers visiting the delivery office by car to ensure they comply with local parking restrictions.”

When asked if she was concerned Royal Mail’s customers were being put in an “impossible situation”, she refused to comment further.