A TRAFFIC warden sparked anger when she parked on double yellow lines — just yards away from a free car park.

Businessman Grahame Albinson spotted the traffic warden parking her car on double yellow lines in Seymour Street, Radcliffe.

He then saw the warden walk across the road and issue a fine for a car parked in Deansgate.

Mr Albinson, managing director of Nuvo Interiors in Church Street West, was so outraged that he decided to take photographs.

He said: “I couldn’t believe what was happening. The warden parked on double yellow lines, when she was only yards away from a free car park.

“She should be leading by example and not parking on double yellow lines. It’s beyond belief.”

But NSL Services, who employ the warden, say she was doing nothing wrong.

Tim Cowen, of NSL, said: “It is permitted for civil enforcement officers to park in what would otherwise be contravention, as long as they are carrying out enforcement, are able to move the vehicle quickly should it be causing an obstruction and there is not a more practical alternative available.

“On this occasion the nearest car park in the vicinity only had disabled spaces available, and as a general rule we try to avoid using such spaces. There was another car park with spaces available some distance away but we were responding to a call from a local shopkeeper concerned about an illegally parked car, and it is important for us to respond promptly to such requests from members of the public or local businesses.

“The operation as described was well within our guidelines and is a good example of properly delivered parking enforcement.”