A PARKING warden was subject to abuse and threats of violence after a row broke out following an incident in Romsey

Posts including threats of broken bones and expletive-filled messages were placed on social media against the warden.

The argument began after a woman took to social media to post a message saying she had pulled up outside Barclays Bank in Market Place, Romsey to help her mum, with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) to get in the car.

The condition causes breathing problems such as asthma.

But, she claims, when she was helping her mum in the car, the warden stopped her mum from getting in to car and continued to take a photo of the car to issue a parking ticket.

Test Valley Borough Council insists that this did not happen and deputy council leader Nick Adams-King spoke out and criticised the woman in his own social media post.

The Daily Echo has seen evidence of threats of violence and abusive comments directed at traffic wardens of Test Valley Borough Council following the message.

Cllr Adams-King said: “I realise that parking officers aren’t always who drivers will wish to see.

“However, the level of language, abuse and threats of violence that are being generated on social media as a result of the account given of this parking ticket being issued is fundamentally unacceptable.

“This can be extremely distressing to these officers who are out doing their jobs.

“The level of vitriol from a minority of people can often be extremely distressing to those who want to come to work and do their job without the fear of being abused.”

A council spokesperson, said: “The council’s position is clear – no penalty charge notice has been issued via the post to any driver parked at this location on that day.

“Civil enforcement officers are there to help protect the public and the roads from dangerous and illegal parking. Our officers do of course exercise their common sense and listen to different explanations, and the vast majority of interactions that our officers have with the public are positive and welcoming.”

The woman, who insists she was given a ticket but provided no evidence to substantiate the claim, told the Daily Echo: “It really upset me – he put a public notice about me on Facebook for everyone to see calling me a liar.

“I was shocked.”

This comes as a taxi driver was left furious after receiving a parking fine for being pulled over for just one minute to help a “frail” woman.

Victor Isaac, who is a private hire driver, pulled over in The Hundred, Romsey for one minute to help the woman get out of the The Phoenix bar and restaurant.

When he returned to his car, a parking ticket was on his windscreen.