A temporary car park in Malmesbury which cost £10,000 to set up has proved a disaster, according to town councillors and traders.

The overflow car park opened on All Fools Day, April 1, at the Station Yard Car Park in Malmesbury.

It was intended to alleviate parking difficulties at the long-stay car park by providing an extra 30 spaces.

The temporary car park, which is situated on grass at the end of the existing car park, uses mesh matting that is rolled on to a hard surface but allows grass to grow through.

But angry traders say many drivers are confused by it while others are just monopolising the extra space.

Mark Foster, who runs Amanda's Cafe in Oxford Street, Malmesbury, said two 4x4 vehicles obstructed other drivers from using the site last Saturday.

Mr Foster said: "The overflow car park is not being well used. The signpost looks like it is has been made by an infants' school and it doesn't look very professional."

District and county councillor John Thomson campaigned for the overflow measure last year, but admitted it was now a shambles.

Coun Thomson said: " It is pathetic. The surface is awful. I expected a hard surface, and the signs are awful. I would give it two points out of ten at the moment."

He is to speak to district council officers to get the car park signage improved.

Town councillor Martin Snell suggested marking out bays on the grass verge.

He said: "The temporary car park has not been identified well, it is not in the best of places and people are getting confused.

"We need proper signage to mark bays out on the mesh."

Another town councillor, Charles Vernon, said that the problem of getting people to use the extension efficiently was exacerbated by the fact that it looked like a grass verge, not an overflow car park.

The temporary car park is expected to stay open until September. The district council approved the extension last December.