No parking: Rev Pooley and Linda Timcke stand outside the church with a parking ticket

A vicar says council chiefs have made it difficult for weddings and funerals to be held at his church after they imposed a parking ban around its grounds.

Rev Clive Pooley criticised bosses after they painted yellow lines outside St Erkenwald’s in Levett Road, Barking, despite opposition from worshippers.

He believes the ban could effectively prevent grieving families from pulling up outside his church for funerals.

The restriction could also put off wedding couples looking forward to leaving in front of relatives and friends after tying the knot, he said.

Rev Pooley, 61, said: “I think it’s abysmal. I don’t think it’s very honourable to anyone.

“Nobody seems to want to know. I’d just like a couple of spaces outside the church so that people can pull up.

“The last thing anybody wants when they come to a funeral is to be stressed. The whole thing beggars belief.”

About 100 people are said to have opposed the plans to introduce the lines at a public meeting in Hurstbourne Gardens in May.

The parking restriction is now in force from 1.30pm to 2.30pm.

Shoppers who park in Levett Road to go to shops in Longbridge Road are also said to be angry.

Linda Timcke, who works at Trilogy hairdressers in Longbridge Road, said: “It will be a terrible inconvenience.

“People who go to the church there are really upset. The vicar is quite distraught.”

A Barking and Dagenham Council spokesman said: “Single yellow lines were painted at the end of May at the entrance to St Erkenwald’s church, to prevent cars from blocking the entrances.

“They have also been painted at junctions to stop vehicles from parking dangerously. There is still parking outside the church for visitors to use.

“The implementation of the new controlled parking zone in Levett Road has been put on hold pending a further consultation. However, any vehicle parking on a yellow line will be given a parking charge notice.”