GREAT Harwood residents say they are being driven mad by getting parking tickets for leaving vehicles outside their homes.

Shaun Riding and girlfriend Michelle Latham, of Blackburn Road, moved into their house 16 months ago.

He said: "There is a sign saying parking is restricted to one hour but some neighbours have been here for 15 years and say they have always parked here without problems.

"There used to be a lot of shops and the restriction was put in place for their benefit but there are only two hairdressers and a convenience store now."

Shaun, 25, who is a cashier at Park Garage, Brownhill, Blackburn, usually leaves his car outside the house between 11pm and noon and had no problems until two weeks ago when he found a ticket on his car. And the following week there was another.

He said: "I was really mad when I saw it and have now got a petition together with other residents to take to Hyndburn Council. A traffic warden was appointed three weeks ago but she has been covering the whole of Great Harwood and is a bit over zealous.

"The nearest place for us to park is about a 10 minute walk away and I can guarantee it would get broken into there." The couple also have another problem as Michelle, 20, is five months pregnant and will need to be able to get to the car quickly when their baby is due.

Shaun added: "We need the car outside the house when the baby is due to be born or it could be all over with by the time I have brought the car to the door.

"And I am also concerned about the £60 bill for the two tickets as we cannot afford to pay it with a baby on the way."

Great Harwood police confirmed that a new traffic warden has been appointed after a two year absence following public demand at a meeting four weeks ago. Sergeant Dave Reading said: "Parking problems were brought to our attention in that people were parking on yellow lines on Queen Street and in other areas.

"We promised we would make attempts to acquire a traffic warden which we have done and have been using on an ad-hoc basis.

"The new warden was told to enforce parking restrictions and this has upset the people that it has affected but no one is being targeted."

David Law, Hyndburn Council principal engineer in the traffic and transport department, said: "If there is sufficient local demand then we would look at the restrictions and try to alter them."