A mother has slammed Swale council for sending out parking wardens on Remembrance Sunday.

Rachel Hallett, whose daughter was taking part in the service and parade from the cenotaph in Bridge Road, Sheerness, was horrified to find their car and half a dozen others had been ticketed.

Her husband’s car had been left in the Bridge Road car park – it received its ticket at 11.57am when the Remembrance service was taking place in Holy Trinity Church, Broadway, Sheerness.

A spokesman for Swale council, which awarded the contact for the service to parking management firm APCOA in July, suggested people could make reference to their involvement in Remembrance activities if they chose to appeal.

He added: “Where a parking contravention is observed, the civil enforcement officer will be unaware of the circumstances as to why the vehicle was parked without a pay and display ticket on display, particularly where other drivers have paid for the use of the car park facility.

“However, it is appreciated that on this occasion a number of drivers may have considered that charges did not apply and of course this will be considered as part of any challenge made to the council as part of the penalty charge notice appeals process.”

Mrs Hallett, who runs Jellybellys childminding service, said: “I do appreciate that the parking was pay and display.

“However, myself and my daughter, who is a St John Badger and was also in the parade, were only parking there for the parade as was the majority of others.

“Even my eight-year-old daughter could not believe what the local council had done.

“We feel let down and are genuinely shocked that on such a poignant day there was someone more interested in totting up the ticket numbers rather than paying their respects to those who gave their lives for our freedom and respecting those who are still fighting.

“If it was any other time we could understand the fine but on this date, time and place it’s just plain arrogant, rude, disrespectful and greedy.”