An emergency service is concerned that lives could be in danger, due to thoughtless parking at Maryport .

Maryport Inshore Rescue took to their Facebook media page on Sunday to put out a plea for people to stop parking outside of their station on Marine Road.

They said: "Where we fully support local business and those collecting their orders from the local fishing fleet, could we please remind those visiting the harbour to kindly not park across the station access points or the slipway.

"We wouldn’t have been able to launch if required today.

"Crew should not be met with abuse from those parking and causing obstruction either."

Operations manager Mike Messenger said that numbers of people parking outside of their station and the Coastguard organisation has increased recently.

They now have cases of people parking in front of their station at least twice a month and are concerned that they might get a call out when vehicles are obstructing their access.

Mike said: "People sometimes don't realise and just pull up to jump out and go and collect fish from the harbour. "The parking problem has generally increased more with the sales on the harbourside. There has been a definite increase, it happens at least a couple of times a month. We would ask that people just don't park on or near the slip.

"We have got a lifeboat station and right next door is the Coastguard. We both need to get out at a moments notice. If we can keep that area clear it would be great. If we get called out we would have to tow the vehicles away we couldn't come looking for the owners, it's something we would have to do."

Sometimes car owners can be hostile when challenged about their parking.

Mike added: "In recent years I have seen people get a bit nasty when asked to move their vehicles. But it's common sense not to obstruct - there is a law against it and signs are up. You wouldn't park your car outside of a fire station or block an ambulance.

"We are politely asking that people have a little bit of forethought."