Two parking officers will be on standby in St Albans on Easter Sunday – even though most of the city centre shops will be closed.

In the face of concerns raised by a Herts Advertiser reader that traffic wardens would be operating normally on Sunday, the district council has confirmed that there are no plans to deploy any.

But two will be available if necessary to monitor and manage unlawful and dangerous parking on the access road to Westminster Lodge and on the grass verge along Bluehouse Hill.

Council legal chief Mike Lovelady said: “Unlawful parking in these two areas can obscure the view of pedestrians trying to safely cross the road and lead to traffic congestion that could obstruct rescue vehicles in the event of an emergency.”

He added: “We will be asking drivers to observe the parking restrictions and where vehicles remain parked unlawfully, penalty charge notices will be issued.”