DRIVERS are forced onto the wrong side of narrow roads around the Malvern Hills because of tourists parking for free.

People looking to avoid car park fees are parking their cars dangerously along the narrow West Malvern Road near blind bends.

Resident James Slater is frustrated nothing is being done after raising the issue with dangerous parking on the B4232 for ten years.

"The situation over this Christmas has been a nightmare.

"When the weather is fine or there is a public holiday we get the 'grockles' who park on the road along blind bends.

"The cars first of all drive on to the footpath where they intermingle with pedestrians.

"Every time the sun shines we have lots of visitors who want to walk on the Malvern Hills but they are not prepared to pay.

"So they all park on the road which is fine when done safely.

"But some are parking on blind bends which makes people like me quite frustrated because we are the poor souls having to drive on the wrong side of the road."

There are car parks for the hills run by the Malvern Hills Trust with the money going towards nature conservation and management of the Hills.

Several are close to West Malvern Road but cars are choosing to avoid fees by parking on the roadside.

Nearby Upper Beacon Road and Lower Beacon Road car parks are pay and display costing £4.60 between 6am and 11pm.

Police have previously placed temporary traffic cones along the road but Mr Slater wants to see a more permanent solution to the problem.

Ideally, he believes double yellow lines will resolve the problem.

The main parking issues are on the B4232 at the junction with B4218, according to Mr Slater.

A spokesperson for Worcestershire County Council said: “Our highways team currently has no record of contact regarding parking issues on West Malvern Road B4232.

"We would ask any residents with concerns regarding parking issues to raise these via our online reporting system www.worcestershire.gov.uk/reportit."