A parking ticket handed out to one of Peter Green's entourage at Ashburton's Blues Festival was 'terrible' PR for the town, said its organiser.

Michael Cranmer said several festival-goers parked overnight were ticketed on Sunday morning.

'We had two civil enforcement officers going round deliberately nicking people that day, with no leeway or bonhomie.

'Perhaps people had slept in late or didn't realise you need a ticket on Sunday. It just gives a terrible impression of the town.'

Mr Cranmer said that Peter Green's road manager was issued with a ticket on Saturday afternoon after leaving the Mercedes van in an undesignated parking space.

He said that after unloading, the road manager drove round the car park searching for a spot for ten minutes.

'He had to park up because he had to organise a sound check and they were already running about an hour late.'

When they heard that wardens were on the prowl, the roadie dashed out to the van but got there too late. 'He explained the situation but they refused to do anything about it,' said Mr Cranmer.

At Tuesday's town council meeting exasperated councillors agreed something needed to done.

County Cllr Stuart Barker promised to sort the problem once double yellow lines replaced the no waiting zones, allowing 20 minutes' unloading time.

'We will have to see if the engineers can come up with an unloading bay outside the town hall,' he said.

A Teignbridge Council spokesman said: 'We appreciate that a parking ticket can be frustrating and unwelcome but quite simply councils have no discretionary power by law over whether or not to issue a ticket. 

Regular patrols are undertaken at all times and parking rules are clearly signed. 

'If someone is breaking those rules, there is no choice for us but to issue a ticket. There is an appeals procedure which anyone can follow and this is printed on all tickets. 

'We'd be very happy to review any case if someone feels that they have been ticketed unfairly.'