PARKING bosses have dropped a £70 fine that was given to a lifesaver working in Colchester town centre.

Community First Responder Martin Ford said he was “flabbergasted” to be ticketed as he was attending to a patient off Head Street, where he was parked.

“Even a bystander told the parking warden where I was and what I was doing and he said to her he did not care.”

Mr Ford told the Gazette he received the “top priority” call from the ambulance service at 3.27pm on Wednesday and arrived to the site five minutes later. The parking ticket was issued at 3.50pm.

“There were three big signs on the van saying I was a first responder, one on the back and one on each door. I parked on Head Street opposite Nandos. Even the guys from the lettings agency said I was just down the road. The parking warden said ‘so what.’”

“I was responding to an emergency. I was on double yellows. I don’t have the nicety of finding a parking space. You have to get there within eight minutes. We can’t flash our lights to get to places quickly. We have to act like a member of the public.”

Mr Ford couldn’t divulge details of the patient, other than it was a “top priority call.”

“It was called a life-threatening incident. They couldn’t get an ambulance straight away and I was called in.”

Mr Ford said a warden later apologised to him, who told him tickets must be given as if first responders are members of the public.

He added: “We are doing this all as volunteers. We are trying to do something good for the community. We try and drive by the Highway Code but Parking Wardens should have a bit more nous to leave something out rather than slap a ticket.”

Colchester Council said it rescinded the ticket on Thursday, following the complaint from Mr Ford and two local councillors.

“Whilst the NEPP fully supports the valuable work of volunteer first responders, unlike Paramedics and Ambulances they are not automatically exempt from parking restrictions. “Now that the first responder has provided full details of the event, we have fully resolved the matter with the motorist.

“We will also be arranging an exemption for such volunteer responders to use in future.

The spokesman added: “Any motorist who believes a PCN has been issued incorrectly can challenge it by submitting a written appeal, which allows the particular circumstances of the case to be considered fully by the Partnership.”