Drivers have been warned against parking on roads near Teesside Airport or face being slapped with a hefty parking charge notice.

Signs warning drivers against stopping, even for a brief period, on the airport's private estate have gone up in recent days.

Roads include the industrial area near Draken and the roads leading towards Teesside Airport Railway Station.

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Signs warn drivers CCTV and parking enforcement is in operation and that drivers could be faced with a £100 charge, reduced to £70 if paid within 28 days.

The Northern Echo: Picture: INCIDENTS ON TEESSIDE AND COUNTY DURHAMPicture: INCIDENTS ON TEESSIDE AND COUNTY DURHAM

It comes as a raft of traffic measures have been introduced in recent months including cones immediately outside the terminal building car park to prevent illegal parking.

But the move has been met with fury from some who do not want to park in the paid terminal building when dropping off passengers or viewing aircraft.

On social media, Jonathon Quain said: "Fantastic - hesitate, make a simple mistake or innocently stop in the wrong place and you get a £100 fine."

Another, David Cowley added: "How to upset new custom, before you even get your new Airport off the ground."

The Northern Echo: Teesside International Airport. Picture: CHRIS BOOTHTeesside International Airport. Picture: CHRIS BOOTH (Image: CHRIS BOOTH)

Explaining why the signs had gone up, Teesside Airport bosses said it was an "important" counter-terrorism measure.

Meanwhile, they highlighted that such measures should not affect those travelling into the terminal building car park.

A spokesperson said: “As we ramp up our operations, increase passenger numbers and create more new jobs on the airport site, we need to ensure only authorised vehicles are entering the private airport estate.

"This is in line with all other international airports and is an important counter-terrorism measure.

“To be clear, this will not affect any passengers using the airport terminal, who can continue to access the terminal using the drop-off and pick-up car parks it is just the private airport estate.

"We are working with all companies on site to ensure permits for their staff are given out ahead of any enforcement, so they are not adversely affected by this important security measure."

Among signs warning drivers not to stop, a number of permitted locations have been introduced to further prevent illegal parking.

Last year, the airport re-introduced a fee to drop passengers off, scrapping the free three hours parking that had been offered for years.

This move was also criticised by passengers who claimed it was a money-making exercise, despite airport bosses saying the prices were among the most competitive.

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