Rector of Chatham Bryan Adams has been collared – and he’s not happy.

He’s been given a parking ticket by Medway Council’s controversial mobile CCTV patrol outside his church.

He is the most high-profile victim and believes things have gone downhill now there are no traffic wardens patrolling and “using common sense”.

The council’s Smart car patrol, snapped Mr Adams’ Volvo estate parked in a prohibited, but no-lined, zone outside the Emmaus Church in Clover Street.

His car was there for precisely 90 seconds but it was enough time to earn the rector a £75 parking ticket.

The Smart car crew took a picture of the 61-year-old rector’s car from 60ft away, unaware of his windscreen notice announcing: “rector on church visit”.

He said: “I am absolutely furious. This is my first parking ticket in almost 10 years as rector and I intend to appeal – I can’t even get to my own car now when I have to drop something or pick something up. This is outrageous."

“The incident was timed at 4.29pm on a Thursday, so I imagine I chose to park on the no-lined twilight zone because at that time of day, parking on double yellow lines would have been very dangerous.”

A Medway Council spokesman said: ”The Rev Bryan Adams was parked directly under a sign that outlines the parking restrictions for that area.

"There is a car park directly opposite the church."