PARISHIONERS were booked by traffic wardens as they knelt in prayer at a church service for soldiers at war with Iraq.

Church officials have written to Bolton Council insisting that cars parked on yellow lines should not be booked during services at St Bartholomew's Church, Westhoughton.

But parking bosses say the congregation will have to keep paying fines if they continue to flout the law by parking in nearby School Street -- even on Sunday mornings.

Ian Taylor, head of parking services, told the parishioners in a letter: "Anyone contravening parking regulations may be issued with a penalty charge notice.

"The current regulations in School Street prevent parking from taking place at any time."

Parishioners say a former rector at the church had an arrangment with Bolton Council that cars parked on yellow lines during services would not be booked.

The church does have a small car park but it fills up quickly on Sunday mornings.

Parishioner James Wilson said: "Many years ago our rector made arrangements for us to park on School Street during church.

"Having asked other members of the church, no one can recall this arrangement being rebuked.

"The new rector's sermon about the war with Iraq was quite poignant on Sunday. Then we went outside and found two young parking attendants booking cars. We couldn't believe it."

A Bolton Council spokesman said: "We do not know of any agreement in relation to parking there. If parishioners can produce anything, we will look at it. Otherwise they must, of course, park legally."