Rail passengers from the Dover district will need to display a permit in order to get free parking at Folkestone West - or receive a fine.

Commuters in Dover, Deal and Sandwich have been cut off from the high-speed service to London since Christmas Eve.

Large cracks in the sea wall at Shakespeare Cliff between Folkestone and Dover deemed the stretch unfit for use, and it is expected to take a year to fix.

This has stopped the service accessing east Kent and many commuters have had to make alternative arrangements to reach the capital.

Southeastern has offered passengers affected by this closure free parking at Folkestone West station, so people can drive and then catch the high-speed train.

But since this has been in place there has been an increase of people taking advantage of the free parking.

In a statement, Southeastern said: “Since we announced that anyone travelling from Sandwich, Deal, Walmer, Martin Mill or Dover Priory could park for free at Folkestone West car park, more people are parking at the station – for free – than actually need to.

“When this happens it means that those who have no choice but to park at this station cannot.

“To prevent this happening a permit or valid ticket must now be displayed by everyone using Folkestone West car park.”

This will be enforced from Monday, April 11.

“Passengers with valid tickets from Sandwich, Deal, Walmer, Martin Mill or Dover Priory will be able to park for free at Folkestone West only by displaying a permit,” the statement said.

“Anyone who travels from stations outside of these should pay for and display a ticket as normal.

“Anyone parking without displaying a valid permit or valid ticket will be subject to a fine.”

A permit can be obtained by collecting an application form from Sandwich, Deal, Walmer, Martin Mill, Dover Priory or Folkestone West stations.

Completed application forms along with a train ticket or copy of a season ticket should be sent to:

Sea wall damage in the Dover Priory area, Freepost, RTSK-BXJE-CCHL, Ashby De La Zouch, LE65 9EL.