Swindon parking ticket for motorist with broken-down car

The ticket was given to Kwame Antwi while he was broken down at a set of traffic lights

A man whose car broke down at traffic lights was given a parking ticket while he was stranded.

Kwame Antwi, from Swindon, said his car would not start again after he stopped at traffic lights on Faringdon Road in the town.

Although his hazard lights were on, two council staff approached the car and gave him the ticket despite his attempts to explain the situation..

Swindon Borough Council has since apologised, and cancelled the ticket.

Mr Antwi said he "immediately" put his hazard lights on once he realised the car would not start.

"The way the road was, there was no way I could push it to a safe place," he added.

He said he called his mechanic, who said he would be there in 25 minutes.

"In the next few minutes, I saw a council car park in front of me, and two ticket officers head towards me.

"I told my wife,' oh we have people who can help us get it to a safe place'."

Mr Antwi said he broke down along Faringdon Road in Swindon

He said he got out of the car, trying to explain why the car was stopped there, but the two council employees did not listen.

"They were just interested in giving me a ticket. They started taking pictures, put a ticket on [the car] and started leaving."

Mr Antwi said he raised an appeal that day - 20 February.

The council said in a statement: "We'd like to apologise to the motorist and his family for compounding what was a stressful situation.

"It appears there were two breakdowns in this situation, the second of which relates to communication.

"We advised the driver to challenge the ticket and it has now been cancelled."