While the traffic warden's away...drivers flout the parking laws
Drivers have been openly flouting parking laws in a market town - after the area's only traffic warden was suspended.
The parking free-for-all has brought chaos to Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, as motorists take full advantage of the unpatrolled streets by parking on double yellow lines and in loading bays.
Short stay car parks for shoppers, meanwhile, have been offering unbeatable value for money - as people park all day for no extra charge.
But traders are complaining that illegal parking is causing congestion in the streets and is bad for business.
Mike Ricketts, who works at Motorworld on the High Street, said delivery vans are forced to unload in the road because cars are parked in the designated bays.
"It's a free-for-all. People are parking on double yellow lines, loading bays, and it's causing quite a lot of problems," he said.
"It's getting worse in the run-up to Christmas and people are getting fed up.
"Some drivers are quite pleased they can park where they like, but the streets are congested and people are always beeping their horns."
The problems began when traffic warden Nigel Greene was suspended by his employer, Gloucestershire Police, over claims that his part-time job as a taxi driver represented a conflict of interest.
The 49-year-old, who faces a disciplinary hearing, has not been replaced, leaving the job of enforcing parking regulations to police officers.
But Gloucestershire county councillor Graham Dawson accused the force of turning a blind eye to the problem.
"We've got no control over the parking in the town whatsoever. It's mayhem. Word is going round that the traffic warden isn't there. It appears that the police are no longer interested."
A Gloucestershire Police spokeswoman refused to comment on Mr Greene's suspension, but said: "Both police officers and community support officers can issue parking tickets.
"However, this is dependent on other commitments they have and issues must be dealt with in priority order."
