Residents were left furious after a NHS Blood and Transplant lorry was hit with a parking fine.

The incident happened in Preston Street, Faversham , yesterday at about 2.20pm as the truck was delivering outside the Alexander Centre.

Furious locals have been left "puzzled" by the council enforcement officer's actions.

Kevin Barrett, 72, was "surprised" to see the parking fine yesterday.

"The street was closed to traffic so it wasn’t causing an obstruction and was obviously performing a public service - getting people to donate blood for the NHS," he said.

"I thought the enforcement officer was thoughtless."

Mr Barrett says he spoke to staff at the Alexander Centre and they said there had been a blood clinic held that day.

"It’s just crass," he added.

Adam Soffe, 37, said parking restrictions are an ongoing saga in the town.

"I understand there is a sign that says you can't park there until about 5.30pm and there is a single yellow line," he said.

"But it was a closed road when it parked there and I was puzzled.

"Everyone goes in to give blood as a volunteer but this is an organisation trying to help people."

The lorries help transport blood donations - as well as organs, tissues and stem cells - across the country.

A spokesperson for Swale Borough Council said: "Our enforcement officers have been dealing with issues of delivery vans breaching the High Street closure and yesterday issued a penalty charge notice to a NHS delivery van which was delivering a service in the Alexander Centre.

"Despite having an arrangement for the van to park elsewhere, we have cancelled the notice immediately."

Mark Rowland from NHS Blood and Transplant said he is "extremely grateful" for the support from the authority - enabling them to continue running the blood donation session in the Alexander Centre.

"Yesterday one of our vehicles was unfortunately delayed in moving to its designated parking space and therefore acquired this parking ticket," he said.

"We appreciate the council’s quick and generous action to cancel the notice.

"The support of the local council, venues and donors is essential to helping us collect the blood we need to save more lives."

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