Parking in the capital can be a bore, but contractors in the outer London borough of Havering have gone the extra mile to make things difficult for drivers.
Retired Phil Wailing had a double-take when he passed this roadside distraction, on Mashiters Hill in Romford, on Sunday.
"I was walking my dog round the block and I saw it," said the 63-year-old, who lives nearby.
"I walked past it thinking I do not believe that so I walked past it again.
"It was disbelief. They've just done the parking bay around the lamp post.
"I thought: 'great job boys, keep it up'. It really was funny. What can you say - it's just ridiculous."
Havering Council said the blunder was caused by a contractor error. Cabinet member for environment Cllr Robert Benham said: "This is a very silly mistake and I’ll be taking this up with our contractor personally - this isn’t the first time common-sense has been called into question, there has been a catalogue of errors."
