Don't park in restricted places - unless you're a police officer. The Citizen caught on camera a police van left on a pavement designed to help disabled people cross a busy Blackpool town centre street, while a policeman bought a sandwich at a nearby shop

Other drivers risk £30 fines for parking in the wrong spot on Clifton Street - and there have also been stern warnings against parking on pavements across the resort.

One irate driver who had just received a parking ticket alerted the Citizen after she spotted the van which was parked up for ten minutes while the driver went into Subway for his lunch on Friday afternoon.

The woman, from Poulton, said: "I was nine minutes late getting back to my car, having put a £1 ticket on it, and received a fine for £30.

"It knocked me sick but I know it was my fault and I had to pay for it. But I couldn't believe it when I saw this police officer park up nonchalantly and walk towards a sandwich shop across the road. They are taking advantage of their position.

"My other concern is that I thought that pavement was built there to make thing easier for people in wheelchairs but the van was blocking all access."

Police say they will not comment on the incident until an investigation is completed.

But officers have been told they must obey traffic laws - except in emergency situations.

"Police officers are expected to adhere to all road traffic regulations whilst going about their duties," a spokesman said: "There will however be exceptions when it is necessary to contravene parking regulations should operational circumstances dictate."

Blackpool Council says its traffic wardens do not have the authority to issue parking tickets to people parked on pavements and that enforcement is the responsibility of the police.

But the council has been seeking to raise the profile of problems cause by cars parked on pavement. Just a week before we caught the police officer on camera the council issued a stern press release warning drivers off the area's pavements.

It complained of a rising bill for repairs and a risk to pedestrians, who could trip and fall on damaged pavements, which could also lead to them suing the local authority.

It quoted the resort's urban environment portfolio holder, Cllr Fred Jackson, who said: "We are asking motorists to have consideration for other road users and keep off the pavements. Pavements are built for the use of pedestrians and therefore are not strong enough to hold vehicles."