A hospital trust has said a “number of complaints” about football supporters taking up patient parking spaces on home matchdays forced them to impose a ban.

News Hornet fans would not be allowed to park at Watford General Hospital during home games this season was posted on the football club’s website on August 9.

The statement went on to say parking security for the hospital would monitor the car park to ensure only “bona-fide” hospital patients and visitors would be given access.

Today, West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust said it had to put patients’ needs first after receiving objections from hospital users.

A spokesperson for the trust, said: “We’re sorry for inconveniencing fans but we must put patients’ needs first. Our car parks are for patients, visitors and staff and this use is made clear to Watford Football Club supporters when they buy match tickets.

“Unfortunately, by the end of the 2017/18 football season we had received a number of complaints from patients and hospital visitors about supporters taking up spaces in the car park at Watford General Hospital so we asked the club to communicate our policy to supporters again.”

On the club’s website, Hornet supporters were encouraged to use the club’s matchday parking discount partnership with CitiPark, operating at the Church, Gade and Sutton carparks.

What do you think of the changes? E-mail rory.butler@london.newsquest.co.uk