A TRAFFIC warden gave an illegally parked lorry a fine — not realising that the driver had died at the wheel.

Police were called to the junction of Halliwell Street and Brownlow Way on Friday at 10.45am to reports that a HGV driver had "suffered a medical episode".

The driver had parked up with his hazard lights on outside the Farm Foods store on the south side of the road.

Police discovered the body of a 52-year-old man in the cab of the lorry and the road was closed off.

It later emerged that a warden working for contractor NSL on behalf of Bolton Council issued the lorry a parking ticket.

NSL said a the enforcement officer inspected the vehicle and did not believe a driver was in the lorry at the time.

A spokesman said: "We can confirm that a HGV was issued with a Penalty Charge Notice for illegal parking in Halliwell Road on March 18.

"As a matter of routine, an enforcement officer took a photograph of the vehicle and undertook a cursory external inspection from the roadside prior to issuing the notice.

"On review there is nothing to suggest that the HGV driver was in his cab at the time the ticket was issued.

"Naturally, all of our thoughts go out to the driver and his family and friends."

The spokesman added the ticket was issued at 9.18am and the warden believed no-one was in the vehicle at the time. 

GMP said the man's death is not being treated as suspicious and the case has been passed to the Bolton coroner.