A PARKING ticket was placed on the Mayor of Swale's new civic car - even before she had had an opportunity to sit in it.

The lease car was being delivered to the council offices at Swale House at Sittingbourne, on a low-loader which was forced to park in a lay-by while Cllr Brenda Hammond's chauffeur took delivery of it.

A unsuspecting traffic warden, unaware of the purpose of the delivery, issued the delivery lorry with a £60 fine.

It was quickly rescinded when the nature of the delivery was explained to council officers.