15379/1DEVIZES businessman Chris Lugg is furious after a traffic warden offered him two alternatives take a parking ticket or face arrest.

This week he opened Hollywood Entertainment, a video library and snack bar in Sidmouth Street.

Vehicles have been parked outside the shop while the premises were renovated. But Mr Lugg received a visit from traffic warden Robin Adams, telling him he had ten minutes to move his vehicles or risk having them booked.

Mr Lugg said: "He said he had been watching the shop and nothing had been loaded or unloaded for the last ten minutes. I did not want to argue so we moved the vehicles. He said he would be back the next week."

Last Thursday Mr Lugg said: "I returned to see him writing in his book. I said 'you know who I am, you know what I'm doing here, can't you give me a break?' Just then someone driving past stopped and yelled to him to f- off back to Marlborough.

"He then threatened to phone the police and have me arrested. I explained it wasn't me who had insulted him. He gave me the option of taking a ticket or being arrested. So I took the ticket. I am just trying to open a business here and I just don't understand his attitude."

Insp Pete Bowerbank said traders had complained about parking in loading bays in the street. He said: "If vehicles are constantly loading and unloading we obviously make allowances. As I understand it, this was not so in this case."