STRATFORD District Council officers say they will look "sympathetically" on drivers given parking tickets during Alcester's two charity Sundays.

Wardens patrolling the town on June 5, the day of the garden walkabout for Cancer Research UK, and June 12, when the annual street market was taking place, punished a number of drivers for parking illegally.

In the main car park many left their cars outside the designated bays and in High Street, Church Street and Henley Street the vehicles were outside the permitted zones.

But town dignitaries said that the wardens should have turned a blind eye to the "offences" as parking is at such a premium in Alcester, and the problems on the day have highlighted the matter.

Nina Knapman said: "In the days before decriminalisation our local police would have given a friendly warning instead of sticking to the letter of the law. This was very much a jobsworth attitude when we were conducting charity events for the benefit of the community. Parking is at a premium in Alcester and they have been very unhelpful.

"This does highlight that there is a shortage of parking and it hasn't been addressed. All they have done by introducing this new regulation is aggravate the situation."

Town clerk Derrick Ward said that he had been assured by a district council officer that the town was not targeted and that each case would be looked at sympathetically. Councillors have instructed Mr Ward to write to the district council with a formal complaint.