77514-45A GROUP of residents was amazed to find their vehicles had been targeted by traffic wardens.

For years people living in Beech Avenue, Pinehurst, have avoided parking on double yellow lines on the road outside their homes by using nearby grass verges.

A special mesh was even laid to protect the grass from being damaged by the cars.

So they were shocked when after two years of parking there with no problems they found £60 parking tickets on their cars.

Tracey Hodges, of Beech Avenue, was one of the unlucky drivers.

"I was outside with my dad and I looked round and there was a parking ticket slapped on the car," said Mrs Hodges, 38, who lives with her husband and two children.

"I couldn't believe it. They got a load of us.

"Two years ago we complained about having nowhere to park so the council put gridding on the grass so we could park. It looks like the council has now changed its mind without telling us they gave us no warning.

"They have gone against all their work and shoved parking tickets on us.

"If they take it away from us we have nowhere to park, there just isn't anywhere else."

Jim Lawrence, 66, another Beech Avenue resident, did not get a ticket himself but challenged the wardens when he saw them in the street.

"I saw them and wanted to know what they were doing and why they were doing it," he said.

"After we had a go at them they got on the phone to their bosses and suddenly disappeared.

"There is a mesh put down to stop the grass being churned up and they only put it where there are double yellow lines.

"We were doing what we thought was the right thing.

"It doesn't seem right, not after all this time."

Mr Lawrence does not normally park on the grass verge but is worried that if no one can park there it will cause a big parking problem in the area.

"I am a security officer and I come in late so it is hard to find somewhere to park," he said.

"If people can't park on there they will have to park elsewhere.

"Where does that leave me?"

But there may be some hope for the Beech Avenue residents who were given parking tickets.

Gavin Calthrop, spokesman for Swindon Council, said the authority was looking into the complaints made by the residents and would report back next week.

Isabel Field