Traders who arrived to set up their stall on the first day of Swindon’s Christmas market found parking in Wharf Green was not just the ticket.

In fact several of them, including the vans of the organising company Cotswold Markets, were given parking tickets by borough council traffic wardens.

Dave Joynes of Cotswold Markets was at the festive market centred on The Parade, Regent Street and Canal Walk. He said: “The issue is the size of the vehicles, a lot of them are too big for the normal car parks, and there’s nowhere to keep them by the stalls and traders often need them to get more stocks.

“We and some of the traders parked down at Canal Wharf where there’s a lot of space, but we got tickets.”

It might be a case of crossed wires because it appears the advice to park there was distinctly unofficial.

Mr Joynes said: “Some of the traders said a traffic warden had said they couldn’t do anything if they parked down there.”

That appears not to have been the case judging by the flurry of fines issued to the traders parked there.

Nicola Chambers selling handbags and scarves from her stall Spoilt for Choice was caught out.

She said: “We have two vehicles down there so we got two tickets.

“We are parked on the top of the Brunel Centre car park now, where there’s lots of space, but there’s only a few passes for the whole market so we’re having to mix and match a bit.”

Mr Joynes said his company would appeal against the tickets, but if unsuccessful it would pay all the fines for the traders.

A Swindon Borough Council spokesman said: “It has been made very clear to the market traders that they cannot park at Wharf Green because it is a space for pedestrians, not vehicles.

“The council, and inSwindon have been consistent and warnings have been given. There is no mix-up. We want the market to thrive and we recognise the benefits it brings to the town centre, but that cannot be at the expense of shoppers’ safety.

“There are plenty of places for traders to park with Brunel West and Granville Street car parks just metres away. A long-stay car park at Bristol Street is also available where all-day parking costs are lower.

“Everything which can be done to support the stall holders is being done, including the council looking at discounted parking on a trial basis for all stallholders, while inSwindon has also secured reduced fees with the market operator.”