A pet shop owner in Barkingside says businesses are “suffering horrendously” because pay and display parking ticket machines have been out of order for “weeks”.

Shaz Dar, 42, from Catwalk Pets and Aquatics, thinks a drop in customers has been triggered by the lack of working machines in High Street.

About six are out of use – with the nearest usable one situated outside Costa Coffee – leading to frustrated customers having rows with parking wardens.

Shaz, whose business is near Fulwell Cross Library, said: “It has had an awful effect. My customers have to walk at least a mile to find a machine that works and I don’t think that is acceptable. The shops are suffering horrendously.”

Due to the Barkingside regeneration scheme, the machines nearest to the shop have been removed.

Shaz said two more outside the library became out of order about six to eight weeks ago, as did two others in High Street.

“We have had rows outside the shop from customers who walked to Costa and came back to find they had a ticket,” Shaz said.

“One, a lovely guy, said he wouldn’t pay, because he had a ticket in his hand, but the warden said he would have to appeal. That’s when I decided I’d had enough.”

Shaz has also seen a pensioner get a ticket after attempting to pay on the phone with her credit card.

She said the woman was struggling for 20 minutes.

Other traders are also losing out. Masud Mahmud, 40, from Cookies and Cream, said: “It is affecting everyone. Sometimes people drive away and don’t come into the shop.”

Shirlee Hodge, 50, from the disability charity Scope, said: “People stop and drop off donations and they are finding it very hard to park.

“Some ask us to help to get their tickets revoked.”

Shaz added: “I think it is absolute rubbish and just another way for the council to make more money.

“People should have a choice of how they pay, so I will be starting a petition.”

Redbridge Council has not yet responded to our questions.