Parents cheering on their children at a sports day ended up running a race to beat traffic wardens.

Snapped - traffic warden's car on double yellow lines while parents got tickets Picture by reader STEVE FROST

To rub salt into their wounds, some of the wardens dishing out tickets were themselves parked on double yellow lines.

The problems started when the families arriving at the Basildon district junior schools sports day yesterday found the car park at Gloucester Park full.

To see their loved ones in action, parents and grandparents started parking on the grass verges in surrounding roads, including Cranes Farm Road.

Steve Frost, of Curlew Crescent, Basildon, was at the sports day to see his son Adam, nine, who attends Kingswood Primary School.

He spotted the traffic wardens on double yellow lines in Crompton Close near the park, and said: "It's typical of traffic wardens and such double standards."

Basildon Council leader Malcolm Buckley said: "The roads around Gloucester Park are all clearways.

"There is no parking permitted on the grass verges or carriageways.

Published Wednesday June 30, 2004

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