A PENSIONER claims traffic chiefs have refused to quash a parking ticket put on a broken down car -- because a breakdown service did not need to be called out.

Alan Jones was forced to leave his Rover Maestro outside the market in King Street, Farnworth, when it ran out of water and overheated.

The 75-year-old set off to get some water but when he returned, he found a parking warden was in the process of issuing him a ticket.

He says the warden insisted on going ahead -- despite his protestations that his car had broken down.

He says he was told that the situation did not count as a "breakdown" because breakdown services did not need to be called out.

Mr Jones, of Lincoln Avenue, Little Lever, said: "I think this is absolutely ridiculous. When is a breakdown not a breakdown?

"The warden told me he had to issue the ticket because he had already started writing it out."

A spokesman for parking firm Apcoa said: "The ticket was actually issued for a disabled badge offence, as there was no clock on the badge showing the time at which the vehicle had parked.

"The ticket was for this offence only, and nothing to do with anything else whatsoever.

"Apcoa certainly does not have a policy regarding breakdown callouts such as this, and Mr Jones would not have been told this by our employees.

"All broken down cars are given one hour's grace, and this would have been the case here.

"If he is still unhappy with the ticket, Mr Jones can make a written appeal."