COUNCIL officials have done one of the quickest ever U-turn on a parking ticket after a zealous warden booked a hearse.

It took only about 30 minutes for the parking services department at Ashford to cancel the ticket.

It had been issued by a rookie warden in the town's Tufton Street. It had caused outrage among passers-by when the green-jacketed attendant pounced while sombre-suited undertakers were loading a coffin.

One passer-by Ruth Goddard, of Canterbury Road, Asdhford, said: “I couldn’t believe it. He looked up and down as if he was thinking about whether or not to give the hearse the ticket and then he did.

“One bloke was furious. He marched over to him and told him he hoped the ghost of the person inside would haunt him”

Mark Spooner, from FC Woods Funeral Directors, said: “No one has used their common sense here. All this does is draw the public’s attention to our job. We try to be discreet and this ticket was clearly handed out while we were working.”

Caroline Owen, from the council, said the penalty charge notice was issued by a recently-recruited parking attendant.