AIR cadets are constantly being sent home because of health and safety regulations governing parking outside their Wareham headquarters.

Motorists are parking across the entrance to the hut, headquarters of the Royal Air Force Air Cadets (RAFAC) 2185 (Wareham) Sqd Air Cadets, in St Martin's Lane.

However, because the building is made of wood, fire regulations mean cadets and staff are not allowed to enter if the entrance - which doubles as a fire exit - is blocked.

Cadet leader Flight Lieutenant Mary Brennan explained: "The gate is clearly marked Fire Exit Keep Clear at all Times. The council has painted a white line advising motorists to keep clear of the gate.

"If Dorset Police cannot trace the owner of the vehicle, cadets have to be sent home. This is not always possible if parents have dropped their cadet off and gone elsewhere."

On Sunday morning cadets and staff were left standing in the road for more than an hour while police worked to trace the owner of a vehicle that was blocking the entrance.

"This made it impossible to finish the planned training for a Duke of Edinburgh’s Expedition," Flt Lt Brennan said. "Staff and cadets had to return the following week to complete the programme.

"Staff have a duty of care to stay with the cadets until the parents can be located."

The situation has also caused recent training courses to have been relocated to the Swanage unit of the air cadets, to ensure they can be completed

Currently, the landowner is looking into employing a parking enforcement firm so parked vehicles can be towed away and only released after a fee is paid, said Flt Lt Brennan.

She added: "It is unfair that some thoughtless drivers are disrupting the positive activities of young people."