HAVING been blessed with good hearing and not so blessed with a nosy nature, I couldn't help but listen into a complaint by a rather irked Australian at Salisbury district council's tax and benefits office recently.

Our Antipodean visitor was waving a piece of paper at the cashier (who was safely ensconced behind reinforced glass), and complaining loudly.

As the story emerged, this particular tourist had arrived by car in Salisbury that morning as part of his holiday. He had parked momentarily outside of a doctor's surgery in town in order to escort his poorly wife inside. On returning, only a few minutes later, he found one of the town's friendly parking ambassadors' ticketing his car.

The man explained the situation and admitted that he had parked on a yellow line. However, he did say that firstly, he did not really understand the parking rules in this country and secondly, his priority had been to get his wife inside, as she was quite sick, and then find a place to park afterwards. An apology and explanation did not change the situation, hence his standing at desk at that present moment with a large fine to pay.

Since the parking ambassadors' of Salisbury are a particular bugbear of mine I couldn't help chipping in with a comment or two.

I told him that it was a pity he'd had such a negative experience within minutes of arriving and advised him many of us locals think nothing much of these street parasites either.

He agreed with me that it had tainted his arrival and added he would be leaving the next day, as long as his wife was sufficiently recovered, as he didn't want to stay here any more.

What a shame! I don't suppose those tourists will have particularly fond memories of our town and won't be giving others too much of a recommendation either.

Parking ambassadors? How about another name to add to an increasing list - I suggest tourism destroyers'.

EMMA HEARD, Salisbury