'Double-parking makes it difficult to get to fires'

A firefighter is seeing "more and more" obstructive parking when responding to emergencies.

On Wednesday, Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said tackling a house fire was made "even more difficult" by double-parked cars on the street.

Watch manager Dave Farrant told the BBC that while they were only delayed by seconds, he sees it about three times a week in his jurisdiction.

"We've noticed an increase, especially in the area I cover, and speaking to colleagues across the service, we are noticing more and more double-parked cars, cars parked over hydrants, just making access a lot more difficult for appliances [fire engines]," he said.

"I think that's through education and people not realising how big an appliance actually is."

The average fire engine is 2.6m (8.5ft) wide and 8m (26ft) long.

"Asking for a vehicle to be moved seems quite straightforward, but at two o'clock in the morning, we don't know whose vehicles are whose and whether they're even there or they've gone out," he continued.

"If you knock on people's doors at two in the morning, they don't always answer. So, worst case scenario, we have to reverse up the road and find a different way.

"The additional stress it puts on a driver... prior to even arriving on scene can be significant."

Farrant said crews "cannot forcibly move vehicles" if there is no way through, and would instead need to carry their equipment to the scene.

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