Whitby MP Robert Goodwill is already on board to stop the practice in the Northern Rail owned railway station car park.

A number of concerned councillors and residents has set up the Whitby Against Clamping (WAC) group which has documented over 40 separate incidents of people, mainly tourists it claims, being clamped in the car park and having to pay over £120 to have their car released.

Before the full council meeting on Tuesday Charles Forgan from WAC told the council of the group's concern on what this practice would do for the town's image and that Mr Goodwill had agreed to arrange a meeting with the company to talk about the problem.

"Let me be clear," said Mr Forgan, "our target is Northern Rail not Hadrian Traffic Management, the clampers, they are the foot soldiers.

"It is a railway car park in name only and it is visitors and tourists who are being targeted."

Coun Walter Jones echoed this sentiment calling the practice "daylight robbery" and calling for measures to end confusion.

"They (Northern Rail] could put a barrier there," he said.

"People parking could buy a ticket on the way in and pay on the way out. It would stop any confusion.

"The current practice is completely draconian."

Deputy mayor Terry Jennison said misconception is the problem.

"Visitors driving in, what's the first thing they see?", he askedd.

"A big sign saying Co-op. They think it is a Co-op car park and until we do something about the signage nothing will change."

There was also words of support from councillors Mike Murphy and Heather Coughlan with Coun Murphy saying: "We need to give this our full support" and Coun Coughlan saying it was "causing an unnecessary distress for visitors".

Coun John Dickinson was worried about the impression it would give to tourists.

"This is bringing the town into disrepute and needs to be stopped," he said.

Mr Forgan assured the council people were getting clamped after popping into the Co-op for just 10 minutes after being asked by Coun Ian Havelock, who said people who overstayed by a long time should be fined.

The council voted to support the groups campaign and Mr Forgan said it will now allow the group to activate Mr Goodwill to approach Northern Rail.