Firefighters in Sandwich are urging people to think before they park and consider whether a fire engine would be able to get through in an emergency.

Crews are increasingly encountering issues getting along the narrow roads in the town, due to poorly parked cars.

Only recently, crews could not get down the High Street when returning from an emergency call out due to four vehicles that had parked on double yellow lines, and crews are concerned that lives could be put at risk by such delays.

Sandwich crew manager Jon Gater: “We appreciate that the mediaeval streets of Sandwich are narrow and that parking can be tight, but blocked roads can cause serious issues. As well as parking on yellow lines, we are encountering vehicles that are parked on junctions, making it impossible for our fire engine to turn, and vehicles that are double parked, making the road far too narrow for us to pass.”

He added: “We are pleading with motorists to think more carefully when they are parking about whether a fire engine, or any other emergency vehicle, could get through. Remember, we could be on our way to a life-threatening incident – we might even be trying to reach you – and any delay caused by poor parking could have devastating consequences.”