Council CCTV 'spy cars' have been criticised again after one was spotted parked on double yellow lines this morning. 

The silver Citroen, which is part of Waltham Forest council's fleet of enforcement vehicles, was seen parked in New Road during the school run, as parents dropped off their children at Larkswood Primary School. 

Parent Linzi Stace, whose seven-year-old son attends the school, spotted the car parked on double yellow lines, with the camera facing towards the school entrance. 

It is thought the car has been making a regular appearance outside the school since the back alleyway entrance in Templeton Avenue was closed last month after a child was approached. 

Yellow lines are installed to improve road safety and ensure traffic flow.

Ms Stace accused the council of double standards.  

She said: "I have no objection to it being near a school but it should be parked in a reasonable place. 

"Instead it sat parked there for thirty minutes with its camera high in the sky. 

"If we cannot do it, they should not be being doing it just so they can catch us doing it.

"This is a typical case of Waltham Forest council being hypocrites. 

According to the council, the CCTV cars are allowed to park on restricted lines when carrying out enforcement activity. 

A spokesman said: "The CCTV enforcement vehicles are responsible for recording moving traffic violations such as stopping in box junctions, driving in bus lanes and making banned turns. 

"They are also used for parking enforcement purposes to prevent parking in areas such as on footways and 'keep clear' markings outside schools. 

"While CCTV cars are considered 'exempted' vehicles under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and are permitted to park on yellow lines, they are instructed to only do so where no suitable alternative exists and to not to park dangerously or obstructively." 

A petition has been launched calling on the school to re-open the alleyway over fears children are being put at risk in New Road due to the traffic and unsafe parking.