A teacher from Bushey has to move heavy wheelie bins every day in order to park her car, despite being eight months pregnant.

Residents using the bins to “reserve” car parking spaces outside their houses in Walton Road have prompted a warning from the police

Sophie Mercado contacted the Watford Observer about the bins last week.

She said: “For over a year selfish residents have been putting their wheelie bins on the road to reserve their parking space.

“This ensures they have a space outside their door when they get home. I've actually started maternity leave now, I'm eight months pregnant and still moving their bins.”

Now the neighbourhood police team are closely monitoring the situation and have issued a statement about the legality of such actions.

PC Ruth Cash, Bushey Safer Neighbourhood Team officer, said: "It is an offence to obstruct a public highway and this includes leaving wheelie bins into parking spaces to reserve them.

“I would ask members of the public to notify the Bushey Neighbourhood Team on 01923 472712 if this continues to happen."

Cars are often parked in Walton Road in order to access shops and it was suggested some time ago that the street be changed to resident's only parking to help ease the problem.

However at the time residents voted against the restriction.

Ms Mercado, a Year 5 teacher at Yorke Meads Primary School in Croxley Green, doesn't agree with the solution her neighbours have resorted to.

She said: “I'm sure at some point soon there will be some altercations, my family have warned me not to move their bins for fear that they will come and take revenge against me or my car.

“It's a sad reflection of the selfishness that typifies many people today.”