HAPPY revellers leaving Huddersfield's Lark in the Park event had a nasty shock when they found parking fines on their cars.

Motorists who had parked on Park Drive South before going to the event in Greenhead Park on Sunday were angry to find £30 tickets when returning to their cars.

Kevin Smalley, of Fixby, was one of the motorists.

He drove up Park Drive South and saw double yellow lines were marked on the right- hand road side, near people's houses. Further up the road, on the right, was a residents' parking only area.

So Mr Smalley and several other motorists parked opposite the yellow lines, on the unrestricted left-hand side of the road, near the park.

He said there were no cones on that side when he parked at 3.55pm.

But when Mr Smalley, his wife and three-year-old daughter returned at 5.20pm, all the cars in his row had tickets and cones had been placed between the cars.

Mr Smalley said: "There were a lot of irate people, because it was so unjust. It is just as well the traffic warden was not there, or things could have got ugly."

The tickets were issued by West Yorkshire Police traffic wardens patrolling the area especially for the event.

Event organiser Tim Garbutt said wardens were brought in to calm residents' fears about parking problems.

He said people could leave their cars on the park side of Park Drive South, but not in the restricted areas.

He added: "If someone got a ticket they must have been parked on the right-hand side or somewhere they shouldn't have been."

Mr Garbutt said cones were put on double yellow lines on the residential side of the road to prevent illegal parking. Extra signs reminded people of the restrictions.

Mr Smalley said he was willing to appeal against his fine through the magistrates' court - as suggested on the ticket - if necessary.

But he said: "What a waste of money to have to go to court over it. It also means I have to take time off work. But I'm not paying it."

A police spokesman said anyone who had a ticket and had a complaint should send a letter outlining the problem to the Central Ticket Office, Jardine House, PO Box 1105, Bradford, BD1 4WA.

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