Dog owner Ken Moakson is suffering from an understandable form of road rage after picking up a parking ticket.

Mr Moakson, who takes his four border collies to obedience competitions all over the country, was forced to park his motorhome in the road after water company workmen dug a large trench across the run-in to his property.

The retired pensioner from Hamilton Crescent, Brentwood believed parking attendants would turn a blind eye as he could get on to his drive during the chaos of pipe relining and replacement.

But the grandfather-of-three was shocked to discover that a parking ticket had been slapped on his vehicle while it was parked in his cul-de-sac by a Brentwood Council traffic warden.

Mr Moakson said: "How was I supposed to jump my vehicle over a big hole to park on my property? The workmen said the council was fully aware and in roads with works going on were supposed to be treating it leniently and using their common sense."

Brentwood Council deputy chief executive Dave Marchant said: "If people are denied access to their properties the water company should make arrangements. This is an issue for them and they should respond to it.

"Wardens have got their ordinary duties to carry out and they are not going to be able to differentiate between vehicles that are illegally parked."

A spokesman for Essex and Suffolk Water promised to investigate but urged customers to contact the company immediately any problems arose.

Published Wednesday September 29, 2004

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