DIY SOS star Nick Knowles has criticised two councils after a number of shoppers were slapped with parking fines following a visit to the town for its new Christmas market.

It follows Swindon Borough Council's defence of its decision to enforce parking restrictions in the town centre, which saw many of the local businesses making up stalls at its Christmas market receiving parking fines.

The I'm A Celebrity alumni revealed in a post to Twitter that an entire row of up to 15 cars had parked on single yellow lines after available car parks had been filled.

But they ended up getting fixed penalty notices by Gloucestershire County Council parking wardens.

He argued that this is the last thing that struggling high streets needed and 'vulturistic' practices like this would only serve to push more people away and towards online shopping.

His tweet said: "Congrats ⁦Cirencester⁩ & Gloucester councils. You hold an 'Xmas Fayre' to get shoppers into town & when they do & car parks are full you ticket everyone parked on a single yellow on a Sunday whole rows of them! Hell of a way to support local businesses by driving people away."

He followed up by responding to someone who said they'd been fined for visiting another Christmas market in Brigstow and that the wardens were 'out in force' by saying: "Lovely people - not vulturistic at all."

Nick's post has divided people, however, with many saying that residents should simply not park illegally or in areas that leave them likely to receive a fine. 

But David Dunn, a Cirencester resident replied: "There aren’t enough spaces when there’s a big event. Why are wardens working on a Sunday? As a Cirencester resident that’s really embarrassing."

Nick replied to David to say that was exactly what his point was, adding that councils were working against high street shops.

A spokesperson for Gloucestershire County Council said: “We love welcoming visitors into our towns and it’s our job to keep them safe on our roads, especially during busy periods of high traffic.”

“Parking restrictions help us to make sure that appropriate visibility is maintained for all road users as well as access for local businesses, blue badge holders and emergency service vehicles.

“It is not permitted to park or wait on a single yellow line while restrictions apply and anyone caught doing so will receive a penalty charge notice.”

Read More: Wharf Green Christmas market: Traders fined on first day

Swindon Advertiser: Christmas market stall vehicles fined for parking in Swindon town centre Christmas market stall vehicles fined for parking in Swindon town centre (Image: Elmar Rubio)

On November 17, the first day of a Christmas market event in Swindon town centre, many of the traders who had parked their vehicles near their stalls received finds from council parking enforcement officers, causing anger

Dave Joynes of Cotswold Markets said there was nowhere for market stall vehicles to park that was suitable but added he would appeal the fines and the company would pay for them if unsuccessful.

A Swindon Borough Council spokesperson defended the decision.

They 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."