Ref. 29558-2A 10-wheel resurfacing vehicle, hired by Swindon Council, has been given a parking ticket by the council's own parking attendants.

The large orange- coloured contraption took up three spaces near the entrance of the Bath Road Car Park in Old Town when it was slapped with a £60 ticket.

The notice itself was attached to a strut on the side of the machine.

It is owned by RMC Surfacing based in Egham, Surrey, and had been brought in under contract to carry out work on Swindon Council's continuing road resurfacing programme.

But the council will not waive the fine.

Council spokesman Gavin Calthrop said: "Whether the vehicle is being used for council contract work or not, the operators should have applied for special permission to park there first."

The ticket was issued by one of Swindon Councils 20 parking attendants.

Before September 1 last year, the police had responsibility for patrolling the town's double yellow lines and car parking facilities.

The contractor now has 56 days to pay the fine, but if it is paid within two weeks, it is halved to £30.

The vehicle has since been moved.

The ticket is just one of around 2,400 handed out by the council each month. In the last six months, the council's wardens have issued 14,000 tickets, generating nearly £300,000 in revenue for the council.

The asphalt vehicle was used on repairs taking place in Albert Street and Severnake Street, Trans-fer Bridges, the Great Western Way and King-fisher Drive.

No one from RMC Surfacing was available for comment.

Tonight the council's cabinet meeting will discuss the option of allowing residents' parking permit holders to park free or at a reduced cost in some car parks.

Anthony Osborne