INTERNATIONAL canoeists turning up to take part in the Devizes to Westminster canoe race on Saturday met with no official welcome to the event but they were greeted by a warning to buy a parking ticket or face a fine.

The canoeists who set off on the 125-mile marathon from Devizes Wharf on Saturday were the senior doubles crews who paddle through the night to catch the tide on the River Thames at Teddington that would help them to the finishing line at Westminster Bridge.

They used to set off with the rest of the competitors on Good Friday but found that leaving a day later allowed them more time and space to prepare themselves.

But it does mean that they are not allowed to park free at the Wharf, where parking charges are only suspended on bank holidays.

Coun John Leighton told town councillors on Tuesday night he had heard that five canoeists had been booked for not displaying a parking ticket on Saturday morning, one of them while he was unloading his canoes.

But Tim Joiner, one of the race organisers, said he had not heard of anyone being booked. He said: "A parking attendant was going around, speaking to competitors and warning them they did need a parking ticket. He was very considerate about it, and I have not heard of any of the canoeists or their supporters getting booked."

Kennet District Council said that one ticket was issued at the Wharf car park on Saturday, but at 3.30pm, long after the canoeists and their supporters would have left.

There was little done to promote the prestigious race. No banner welcomed competitors and no special events were planned to coincide with it. The only civic involvement was the presence of town mayor Paula Winchcombe, who waved off the competitors in the junior doubles class on Good Friday.

This is in contrast to when the race was originally run, when people lined the banks of the canal to see the canoeists off and the presentation of medals and cups took place each year in the Corn Exchange.

Mr Joiner said: "We would really welcome re-establishing relations with the town and district councils. I know the town council would be as delighted as us if there were more events designed alongside the race."

It is expected that the new town centre manager Janet Duffield will be asked to open discussions with the race organisers when she takes up her post in May.