The bays, often found the near the entrances to supermarkets, offer parents a handy place to park and shop.

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They were designed to make life a bit easier particularly for mums juggling children and the shopping.

But now drivers have been warned that they risk a £100 fine by using the bays even when there are children in the car with them.

The warning comes after a mum was ordered to pay £260 for using one of the free spaces – because she didn’t actually take her kids out of the car, reports the Mirror.

The parking firm claimed the parent “didn’t require the extra space” due to the fact she wasn’t unloading her vehicle and she paid the price after leaving her vehicle in the parent-child bay.

And drivers are not allowed to use the bays if they have a child over the age of 12 with them in the car.

Most car parks are managed by companies with their own rules which extend to child bays. The rules must be made clear to all drivers.

Drivers could be slapped with a hefty Parking Charge Notice
of as much as £100 for misusing the parking space.

Tim Alcock of LeaseCar.uk told The Sun: “Mums and dads will naturally enjoy using parent and child parking spaces that are more comfortable to park in and in an area closer to a shop’s entrance.

“Unfortunately, the rules can be a little more complex than the name suggests and it can be all too easy to get caught out,
landing yourself in hot water or taking a hit in the pocket.

“The number one piece of advice if you’re considering using a parent and child parking space is to have your child with you and to take your child with you in-store.

“Read a car park’s signage, note the terms and conditions of using a parking there and then follow the stated rules.”

The RAC say: “Parent and child bays are reserved for parents or guardians with one or more children under 12 years old. It’s unclear whether pregnant women can use the spaces and probably best to ask an individual store manager what their rules are.

“While it isn’t illegal to park in a parent and child bay if you don’t have a child under 12 with you, you could be hit with a Parking Charge Notice (PCN). Disabled drivers should use the dedicated bays for blue badge holders.”