A BOURNEMOUTH priest was forced to help smash the window of a BMW that was illegally parked outside his house.

The BMW 3 series was parked on Father Peter Edwards’ property on Albert Road in Bournemouth.

A witness told the Echo that three loud bangs were heard at 10.10am outside The Echo building on Tuesday.

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Smashed glass was scattered across the road and the car alarms were sounding.

Bournemouth Echo:

The priest was called to an emergency hospital appointment at the time he realised he was blocked in by the vehicle.

The car was also blocking the fire exit and underground car park to The Echo building, causing a health and safety issue.

Father Peter Edwards, a parish priest at St Peter's Church said: “The car was parked on our private land in our bay immediately in front of the garage, blocking the garage completely.

“So, I couldn't get out and I had an emergency call to the hospital. We assumed that the car had been abandoned.

“There was a traffic officer who came by, and she commiserated but she couldn't do anything because of private land and suggested it be bounced off into the road, then she could act.

“So, some chaps came and just bounced it off.

“Our secretary alerted the police to say that it's blocking the road. They couldn't manoeuvre it because the steering lock was on. So, they smashed it.”

The owner then later returned to the damaged vehicle and spoke to police before driving off. The BMW was also issued a parking ticket.

A spokesperson for Dorset Police said: "We had a third-party report of criminal damage to a car at 10.35 am.

"However, when officers attended the owner of the vehicle was also at the location and removed the vehicle and no complaints of criminal damage were made."

Dorset Police provides information about inconsiderate parking on its website.

It says: “If someone parks their vehicle on your driveway without your permission, this is trespassing.

“This is a civil dispute and not something we can help you with.

“If it happens repeatedly with the same person / vehicle you might want to seek advice from Citizens Advice or a solicitor, but we would always recommend having a polite word with the driver first, as there may have been a simple misunderstanding.”