Parking tickets dished out as wreaths laid

War veterans were hit with parking tickets as they paid respects to fallen heroes during a Remembrance Sunday service.

Scores of people, including former soldiers who attended the ceremony at the Cenotaph in Walsall town centre, returned to their cars to find they had been given £25 fines.

Ex-servicemen today condemned the decision to issue the tickets.

Since last year's service, Walsall Council has introduced parking charges in its car parks on Sundays, but those ticketed said they had no idea of the changes.

Council leader Mike Bird today defended the move and said wardens were legally bound to issue the fines for people using car parks and not paying.

Reg Maxwell served with the Royal Artillery for 13 years between 1964 and 1977 which included a stint in Northern Ireland.

The 63-year-old of Heather Road, Bloxwich, said: "It is disgraceful. I have been going to the service for years and never had any problems parking. We were trying to remember the dead and then there are wardens going around giving out parking tickets, how low can they get?"

Former secretary of the Walsall branch of the Royal British Legion Carol Fletcher added: "What is even more painful is that these tickets were actually issued whilst the parade and service were in progress."

Councillor Bird said the authority would not be able to wipe all fines clear.

"Each ticket was issued within the law. A warden has no indication whether a car belongs to a war veteran. There is an appeals process and each case would be considered on its merits."

It is the latest row in Walsall regarding the borough's team of council-controlled traffic wardens.