COUNCIL officials were given a "hands off our car parks" message in an East Yorkshire market town.

East Riding Council members and officers had the blunt message ringing in their ears during a protest in Pocklington.

More than 100 objectors joined a peaceful parade against proposals to introduce charges at three long-stay parks in the town.

The parade coincided with the Beverley-based council's roadshow consultation on the controversial plans at Pocklington's rugby ground yesterday.

Organisers enlisted the help of Lord Kitchener, famous for his "Your country needs you" recruitment posters in the run up to the First World War.

Hundreds of posters bearing his heavily mustachioed face were put up around the town to drum up support for the war against parking charges.

Town councillor and local trader Jeff Shepherd said: "We decided to use Lord Kitchener as a figurehead for posters bearing the legend 'Your town needs you'.

"It was our time and it was vital we made as big an impact as possible on the council officials.

"I was delighted with the turn out of town councillors, traders and residents, and they were left in no doubt that charges are not wanted in Pocklington."

Traders in places such as Pocklington, Anlaby, Cottingham and Hessle fear scrapping free parking will drive shoppers elsewhere.

The proposal to introduce charging was put forward by a panel of councillors after a major review of the council's car parking provision.

Aimed at creating a consistent policy across the East Riding, the plans also include reducing charges at many sites where motorists already pay to park.

The move prompted the Mail to launch its Park The Charges campaign, calling on the council to abandon the introduction of further charges.

In Pocklington, an action group of local councillors, traders and members of community groups organised the procession from Market Place to the rugby ground.

The final roadshow will be at Cottingham Civic Hall on Thursday, June 11, from 4.30pm to 7pm.