Dorset Police has been proactively patrolling Bridport this morning to ensure market traders had access to their pitches.

A community support officer has been patrolling Bridport town centre ahead of today's market checking for unauthorised vehicles parked in prohibited areas.

Officers are able to use a national police computer to see where vehicles are registered so that enquiries can be made before parking enforcement officers issue a penalty charge notice.  

A spokesperson for Bridport Police said: "PCSO Pete Smith had and early morning foot patrol around the town this morning to make sure that the market traders are able to get access to their pitches with their vehicle as allocated by the Bridport Town Council on Wednesday's and Saturday's.

"Where an unauthorised vehicle is parked in a prohibited area, the police can check on the Police National Computer (PNC) to see if the vehicle is registered locally or is a visitor to the area so that enquiries can be made, ideally before the Parking Enforcement Officer has issued a Penalty Charge Notice. 

"In most circumstances, this is resulted with a positive outcome, where the driver is located and moves the vehicle without getting a fine, which then allows the trader to set up their pitch and trade as normal."