Busy police were unable to respond when a thoughtless driver parked across Rob Brandon's driveway in Oaklands Crescent, Chelmsford, and he had to walk to work.

So 55-year-old Mr Brandon decided to park across his own driveway to stop the same thing happening the next day - and got a £20 parking ticket.

The parking problems occur regularly during term time at nearby Chelmsford College.

Mr Brandon, a newspaper reproduction supervisor said: "I am not blaming police or the traffic warden who was doing his duty He or she obviously didn't realise it was my car.

"It is just upsetting that people park across my driveway and I am unable to get out. It has been a long term problem.

"I have a notice saying Please Do Not Park Here but drivers still do."

Now Mr Brandon is writing to Chelmsford Borough Council highways department suggesting that double yellow lines in the road across driveway areas, like his, would stop the problem.

Mr Brandon had to walk a mile and a half to work on Thursday when the inconsiderate driver blocked his own car on his drive.

When he contacted police they told him they were busy with road accidents but they would do their best to respond.

Mr Brandon said: "On Friday, a day off, I decided to park my own car across my driveway, which has the correct dropped kerb, to stop it happening again.

"Then I discovered later a parking ticket had been put on my car. I spoke to the traffic warden office at Chelmsford police station and was told to write to the central ticket office at Rayleigh telling them the circumstances hoping I don't have to pay a £20 fine for parking across my own driveway."

A Chelmsford Borough Council spokeswoman said she was sorry that Mr Brandon had a problem and asked him to write to the highways department with his suggestions.

When a Chronicle photographer visited Oaklands Crescent on Monday there was another car parked across the access to Mr Brandon's driveway.

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