A number of drivers returned to Moira Furnace Car Park at the weekend fo find their cars had been locked in for the night.

The Museum and Country Park posted on its Facebook page on Monday that the gates are closed at 5pm - meaning some motorists would have been stranded.

They insist they do not want to leave their gates open overnight and have reminded visitors of the car park closing time.

Last month, they warned drivers not to park dangerously on the approach to the Furnace Moira Furnace officials warn of dangerous parking

But they had problems of a different kind over the weekend.

The Furnace page posted: "Over the weekend, we have unfortunately had cars being locked in the car park.

"The car parks are locked at 5pm, as per the signage around the site and at entrances to car parks.

"Currently, the office if not manned after 5pm and so the only way to contact us is via Facebook messenger.

"Even then we cannot guarantee this will be received.

"The volunteer who locks the barriers for us tries very hard to find the people whose car it is in the car park before locking it and also returns several times later on to see if this person has returned. He will then happily let them out.

"If your car is locked in and you do not manage to catch the volunteer to let you out, we are really sorry, but you will not be able to get out until around 9am the next morning.

"We do not have many staff and rely on volunteers. We cannot run the risk of leaving the car parks open overnight.

"We ask that you make every effort to get back to your car and exit the car park by 5pm so as to avoid any issues."