POLICE towed away a car during a parking fiasco which had residents riled.

Angry motorists have called for double yellow lines or parking permits in Walnut Drive, Witham, as commuters left their cars blocking the road.

On Wednesday morning police were called just after 7am, as residents said it was impossible to get through.

Bin lorries only just managed to squeeze through, and there were fears emergency services could be stopped from reaching accidents.

Police said: “There was concern that should emergency vehicles be required to attend, they would have been unable to access the road.

“A Volkswagen Golf was removed, and advice left for another driver.”

Residents praised police for stepping in, as motorists had resorted to driving up onto the grass to get round the poorly parked cars.

Following the incident a parking discussion group was set up and a meeting will take place on June 14.

Phil Barlow, parliamentary candidate and member of the town council’s parking committee, said: “I have asked the parking partnership before to put double yellow lines in because if that was done it would solve many problems. I’m really disappointed that residents have had to suffer and I just find it odd that people just don’t understand they are causing a problem.”

The parking discussion group meeting will be held between 7.30pm and 9.30pm on June 14.

It will take place at The Hub in the Newlands Centre.

Resident Stacey Forrester said: “So many people park dangerously down this road, I’ve lost track of the amount of times I’ve seen people park on the corner. This was the first time I’ve seen people having to drive over the grass, I was lucky my car just squeezed through. I feel yellow lines are needed on the corners.”

Phil Barlow for Labour is standing against Conservative Priti Patel, Jo Hayes for the Lib Dems and James Abbott for the Green Party on June 8.