TRAFFIC wardens have been branded “mean” for targeting fundraisers taking part in Basildon’s Race for Life event.

Drivers parked on the grass verge outside Basildon Sporting Village, in Cranes Farm Road, and in nearby streets on the Pipps Hill industrial estate were hit with £70 fines over the weekend.

Gloucester Park played host to the Pretty Muddy obstacle course on Saturday, and 5k and 10k runs on Sunday.

Women taking part reported seeing two cars full of traffic wardens parking up in the area before the annual event kicked off.

Pat Murphy, from Benfleet, had taken her grandchildren to watch their mum take part in Pretty Muddy.

She returned to her car, which was parked in Crompton Close, to discover she had been ticketed.

Mrs Murphy, 60, said: “As soon as we came down the road we could see everyone had been given parking tickets.

“There was nowhere else to park. I really think the organisers should have thought about it.

They could have arranged for people to park in some of the nearby industrial businesses. I was going to go in one of them myself, but didn’t want to get clamped.

“I didn’t even notice there were yellow lines on the road because I was too focused on trying to find a space.

“I think it’s a bit mean, because they know why everyone is there.

It just put a bit of a dampener on the whole thing.

“My grandchildren were even offering to pay because they felt bad, bless them.”

One Race for Life participant, who did not want to be named, witnessed two wardens ticketing cars parked on the grass verge at the side of Cranes Farm Road.

She said: “I was mortified. I could understand if the cars were causing an issue with the safety of the road, but they were well out of the way on the grass.

“When I explained to the wardens that we were all there for a charity event, they just shrugged and said they were filming us.

“I expected the council to use some common sense and let it go, but it seems we were targeted for financial reasons.”

The fines issued by South Essex Parking Partnership, are reduced to £35 if paid within 14 days.

This year’s Basildon Race for Life event attracted more than 6,300 entries.

Gill Burgess, event manager, said because of the huge amount of people taking part, parking is not provided at the Sporting Village. She added: “We’ve not been able to offer parking at the site for the past three years.

“We do advertise on our website that there is no event parking. I understand that there is parking available in the town centre, which is about a ten minute walk away.

“We also offer a designated drop off and pick up zone.

“I’m very sorry to hear people received parking tickets.”

! The leader of Basildon Council has asked “mean-spirited” traffic wardens to reconsider the fines handed out during the weekend’s Race for Life events.

Phil Turner, who heads the Tory administration, said: “I think from the public’s point of view it looks like the wardens have come out in force for pay day.

“Obviously yellow lines and permits are there for a reason, and there is often no excuse. But given the event, I must say it does seem a bit mean spirited.

“There might be something the parking partnership can do.

“It would be good if some of the fines could be cancelled, given how many people turned up over the weekend to raise money for such a good cause.”

South Essex Parking Partnership, based at Chelmsford Council, took over parking enforcement in the borough in 2011.