PEDESTRIANS were put at risk when a mobile traffic and parking enforcement car was stationed in the middle of the pavement!

It was parked on Bolton Road, Bury, early on Tuesday morning, forcing people to step onto the highway to pass round the Toyota vehicle.

After two hours, a Bury Council official arrived at the scene and ordered the driver to move it.

The Toyota, which has a CCTV camera, is being used by the local authority’s contractor NSL to capture motorists driving in bus lanes during restricted hours. Those who do so face being issued with fixed penalty notices. Last month, as reported in the Bury Times, the same car caused consternation when it was parked on a pavement straddling a grass verge on Manchester Road, Bury.

The latest incident caused anger among many pedestrians using Bolton Road during Tuesday’s morning rush hour.

Concerned passer-by Mr Gareth Mawdsley, who took the photograph of the car blocking the pavement, said: “It was there at 7.45am and caused problems for pedestrians who were forced to go on to the busy road.

“When I approached the driver and asked if she could move to a more appropriate parking space, she told me ‘it ain’t my problem, speak to Bury Council.’”

He rang the local authority and was told someone would come back to him — in two days. But he persisted and eventually a council officer arrived at Bolton Road at 9.15am. He ordered that the car move from the pavement and acknowledged it was not parked properly.

Mr Mawdsley added: “I know they have a job to do, but to have a parking enforcement car actually parked on the pavement was an absolute disgrace and completely unacceptable.”

A Bury Council spokesman said: “Enforcement vehicles are given dispensation to park anywhere while carrying out their duties.

“However, on this occasion the vehicle was not ideally parked, and we apologise for any inconvenience this caused to pedestrians.

“We will now review the locations near bus lanes to find the most suitable places where the vehicle can park, and instruct NSL accordingly.”