Work on the Asda superstore in Stenhousemuir had left retailers and customers with nowhere to park.

MacDonald Estates, working on the site near Crownest Park, had cordoned off most of the parking spaces, and business owners claim the rest were being used by contractors arriving early in the morning.

Sharon Douglas, owner of Sisman's newsagents, said: "It's a huge car park but only a tiny bit is available, there's not enough space.

''We've constantly got people coming in and commenting on it. People are having to drive around two or three times and a lot of them are driving off again.

"The vans are there from 8 a.m. so customers don't have a chance."

Another retailer said: "It has been a bit of a nightmare at the moment with parking, especially with the work vans.

''They could have more of the car park open or put the work vans up the top so there is more room for shoppers. It's going to take time and I appreciated that, but it could be handled better."

But Falkirk Council promises the situation is to get better.

Douglas Duff, head of economic development, said: "We have already been in contact with MacDonald Estates and they have instructed their contractors to remove their vehicles from the public parking spaces. This has now been carried out. They have also informed us that an additional 100 parking spaces will be made available to help with the situation."

The 40 sq ft Asda is due to open after the summer. It forms part of the town's £18 million regeneration, which includes the new 'wave' roofed library which opened in April, more than 34,000 sq ft of retail space, a medical centre and a new football pitch and changing rooms at Crownest Park.