Scores of people want a shopping centre to reimburse them after it emerged its car park had been wrongly issuing fines.

Middleton Shopping Centre admitted that it had been met with "concerns" in recent months about its new parking system which has issued £60 fines, even when shoppers have paid for a ticket.

Drivers are required to remember the time they entered the car park when purchasing a ticket at the end of their shop but have been "caught out" by a matter of minutes - or have paid to display their ticket when arriving.

Others have paid for a ticket and didn't receive a receipt from the machine.

While it has offered free parking for the remainder of the year as a "goodwill gesture", Arndale bosses also said they were investigating the situation and are urging shoppers to appeal their fines in the meantime.

READ MORE: Middleton Shopping Centre announces changes to parking rules after complaints

However, readers said they have been caught out numerous times by the 'faulty' machine - and want a refund having already paid the fine.

Rebecca Wolstenholme said she was issued a fine in October, despite putting her details in and paying at the machine.

She said: "The barrier was up so I never thought anything of it until I got the £60 fine."

When Raymond Gorman and his wife went shopping, they similarly logged their details into the machine and paid 50p for a ticket, which didn't issue a receipt.

Fortunately, the pair were able to appeal their fine, but others haven't been so lucky.

As an unpaid carer, Emma Rowbottom said she doesn't have "spare money to waste" and tried to appeal her £60 fine to no avail.

She pointed out that she can park for free in other towns across Greater Manchester and said she won't be going back.

She added: "The only thing that would change my mind is if I got a refund of the fine."

Bev Howarth and Pauline Evans both said they didn't see any information about how to pay and were enticed into the car park by the barriers being up.

Their appeals against the fine were also unsuccessful with Pauline having to pay £120 for two unpaid tickets worth £1.

She said: "It seems they have taken advantage of honest people."

Melanie Lewis said she paid her fine "under duress" and believes the shopping centre is only offering free parking after "making enough off fining people wrongly".

She added: "In this current climate where people are genuinely struggling, you would think you would want people to come and shop in the centre but all you are doing is pushing customers away.

"Some are refusing to come back - shame on your management, Middleton Shopping Centre.

"I'm sure your days are numbered if it carries on."

A spokesperson for the shopping centre said the new parking system was introduced in August this year but admitted its pay machines were "complicated to use" and have resulted in shoppers receiving incorrect fines.

The issue is currently being investigated and the spokesperson said shoppers can appeal their fines per the instructions on the notice.

They added: "The offer of free parking is intended as a goodwill gesture to support the local community and businesses in the shopping centre in the run-up to Christmas and is subject to ongoing review, whilst we do everything we can to help appeal any incorrectly issued fines."