THE Mayor of Bolton will have to appeal against a parking ticket issued when her car was on official duties.

The mayoral limousine along with a police car and a police van, had tickets slapped on them in Le Mans Crescent on Bank Holiday Monday during the Victorian market.

But today, APCOA, the company which runs parking in the town on behalf of the council, said designated parking bays in Le Mans Crescent had been suspended during the market and the Mayor and the police would have to follow the usual appeal procedures.

The mayor's chauffeur had parked the official car outside Bolton Central police station while the Mayor, Cllr Prentice Howarth visited the Market. The police van and car had been parked in designated police spaces. The tickets were issued between 11am and 11.30am.

A spokesman from APCOA said parking attendants had been right to book the Mayor and the police.

The spokesman added that the Mayor and the police would have to appeal against the £30 fine, before any decision is made to quash the fines.

"With the parking bays suspended, parking attendants can not give special dispensation to either the mayor or the police. Anyone who is issued with a ticket can appeal and we will consider it. If they feel that they should not have received the tickets then they are welcome to appeal.

These were just three tickets out of many issued on Bank Holiday Monday."

Both Cllr Prentice Howarth and the police did not wish to comment.

The mayor has until Monday, September 13 to lodge an informal appeal with the council's parking office if she wants to take ensure that she will receive a 50 per cent "early payment discount" on her £60 fine.

If the challenge is rejected, she could then ask for a formal appeal with the council or a postal or personal hearing with the independent Parking Adjudicator.