The tables were turned on a traffic warden this week when he was snapped parking in a keep clear zone.

The parking enforcement officer was caught in the act as he slapped a ticket on a car in a disabled space behind St Edwards Church in The Mews, Romford, on Saturday.

Gidea Park resident Sam Collyer, 41, couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw the officer pull up in the restricted zone and spend around 10-minutes writing out a ticket for the car parked in the disabled space.

Sam, who works for a rubbish disposal company, quickly took a photo of the officer flouting his own rules.

But the council says its officer was not breaking the law, releasing the statement: “Our officers are allowed to park in restricted areas during the course of their duties to ensure enforcement action is carried out as quickly and efficiently as possible.”

But resident Sam hit back: “I think it’s disgusting. I work for a rubbish disposal company and they’re always getting us for loading and unloading, picking up things like fly tipping. But in other boroughs if you explain your situation they’re not so hard on you.

“In Havering it’s just a cash cow. It’s quite annoying to see one rule for them and one for us.”