POLICE have issued a stern warning to motorists who park illegally on double yellow lines after firefighters were delayed on their way to an emergency call.

Inspector Steve Sansbury, of Blackburn Police, said there would be a purge on town centre parking after two fire engines could not get along Darwen Street, Blackburn.

Insp Sansbury said: "There have been problems with parking in Darwen Street for a long time and what I always feared would happen has, with the emergency services delayed on route to a 999 call."

Parking in the one-way street, which runs parallel to Mincing Lane in the town centre, is particularly bad at night because of a taxi company and series of fast-food takeaways.

Insp Sansbury added: "There are parking bays along one side but double yellow lines along the other and we are seeing a situation whereby people are double and even triple parking along there some nights.

"The problem comes when people need to get through. It's very serious. The repercussions of an emergency vehicle being delayed for 30 seconds or a minute can be very serious indeed.

"Luckily this incident was not life-threatening but there will be a purge on parking in that area and we are not doing it because we have nothing better to do. This is a valid complaint."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.