Homeowner draws the line on problem parkers by daubing double yellows on his cottage

A fed-up homeowner has taken drastic steps to stop cars parking outside his front door - by painting double yellow lines on his cottage.

John Anderson, 48, became enraged by motorists dumping their car outside when council workers painted yellow lines on the road - but not outside his property.

Robotics services engineer John took matters into his own hands and painted the lines across the front of his £165,000 two-bedroom home last week.

They stretch all the way above John's front door of his white-washed home in Butchers Lane, Coundon, Coventry, beside a large exclamation mark warning drivers to steer clear.

The double yellow lines currently end just next to his home - making it legal for drivers to park outside his front door.

John, who has lived in his home for 25 years, is now demanding a residents' permit scheme to stop drivers using the space as a free parking bay.

Drivers started using the lane to park their cars in 2011 when the council narrowed one end of the street which made it impossible to park on both side.

He said: "I'm at work all day and then turn up at midnight and I'm having to drive half way round the village to find somewhere to park.

"It's a hassle and time consuming and not ideal when it's dark. We deserve our own place to park.

"I had to park a quarter of a mile away from my house the other day. "

He continued: "Parking hasn't been a problem until a few years ago and it's got worse.

"We've been to ward meetings and it's been suggested we park on the other side of the village.

"We don't just need parking restrictions, we need residents' parking permits.

"The lines will stay put until we can hold talks with the council about having these permits and maybe we can get it resolved.

"Then I can have my nice white cottage back again."

The issue came to a head when the road was resurfaced last year and the lines repainted three-weeks ago.

But the new lines were a different length to those that were there before - allowing motorists to block John's home.

Neighbour Thelma Anderson, 66, also has drivers parking outside her home.

She added: "There are times I'm coming home and I'm worried about whether I can get a space on my street.

"I've been able to park outside my home or further up the street before and it's been fine but now I have to try and find somewhere else. It's quite frightening at night.

"We might be living in a village but we all have cars here, it's a modern area.

"Not everyone can have parking outside their home but the reason we moved here is because we knew we could park on this street. It's not always the case anymore."

A Coventry City Council spokesman said: "We are well aware of the difficulties parking in Butcher's Lane which is a narrow road.

"About 18 months ago, to try and alleviate the situation and help residents, we removed the yellow lines where the road met Birmingham Road.

"However, this led to congestion and delays as the junction became blocked and we received complaints from residents in the road as well as emergency services.

"Therefore after consultation with residents the yellow lines were restored.

"If residents want to apply for a permit scheme for the road it would be considered."