Almost 40 cars were caught out by the high tide at a North Wales beach car park, stranding them in seawater.

The village of Talacre in Flintshire, a popular tourist spot for Chester day-trippers in the summer, has been suffering a parking crisis for years.

Talacre’s existing beach car park provides around 250 spaces but its use is dependant on the high tides.

Yesterday (May 8), almost 40 vehicles – including a horse box – were caught out by the tide.

A sign that read 'sorry beach closed for vehicles due to high tide' was on a gate which was allegedly left open.

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Talacre Business Group chairman Lyndon Mulhearn, who has owned the Sandancer Amusements on Station Road for nearly 30 years, said it had been another day to show alternative parking must be a priority.

He said: “It’s been really busy in the village.

“I saw the gate (at the car park) had been left open, I’m not sure why, it was closed on Saturday.

“But people who don’t know just drive in and park and obviously lots of them have got caught out.

“This proves there is an urgent need for a common sense solution to this ongoing problem.”

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Most of the cars were able to drive away once the tide went down.

Shortly after the tide went up, the overfill car park was also full.

Limited parking in the popular village frequently leads to cars being dumped on pavements, grass verges and even in front of driveways.

Within three to five years, car park owners Natural Resources Wales want to restore the tidal car park to a beach.

To combat the eventual loss, Talacre Business Group has come up with a proposal for up to 320 car parking spaces on private land just a stone’s throw away from the beach.

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The sticking point is the site is legally protected for wildlife, but members believe an environmentally-friendly scheme could be drawn up to solve the village’s parking woes and also enhance the 'neglected' land.

In March Natural Resources Wales has said it will help find a long-term parking solution and has not ruled out the idea.

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