Traffic wardens in parts of Castle Point are having to patrol in pairs because of the abuse and danger they face from angry motorists, it has been revealed.

Abuse of wardens has reached such a level in some areas of the borough that their controller refuses to send them out on their own.

Sandra Cotton, the Rayleigh division's traffic warden controller, was hitting back at Castle Point councillors who had criticised her staff for "hunting in pairs and not policing the streets of the borough more efficiently."

Ms Cotton said: "In some areas, like Hadleigh town centre, I am not prepared to send a solitary warden because of the abuse and possible danger they are subject to.

"I also refuse to send them on their own to places like Charfleets industrial estate on Canvey during auction day as they are constantly abused by outsiders. That is why you sometimes see them in pairs.

"Also, my resources are dwindling, yet we have to cover an area stretching from Great Wakering to Canvey. In the last 12 months I have lost three wardens through natural wastage and I cannot replace them."

The council's highways committee last night heard how police budget reductions meant a loss of two traffic wardens, leaving areas such as Canvey with one traffic warden from September.

The committee was told that because of changes in the law, three-quarters of traffic restrictions and yellow lines in the borough were unenforceable. Broken lines no longer exist in law - but many have not been repainted.

Councillors accepted wardens were having a tough time, and the problems over yellow lines needed to be addressed immediately.

After the meeting, Ms Cotton said: "We get abuse from all walks of life. The language is far from nice

"Abuse is becoming more and more the norm. We have had cars driven at us because we won't allow them to park where they want. One traffic warden was grabbed by the throat.

"If there is a physical assault then we call for police assistance and prosecute, but that doesn't help at the time when these things are happening.

"We even have people photographing and videoing us if we are handing out a ticket. It is ludicrous."

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