COMPLAINTS have been made about the number of cars parked illegally on a busy road near a city mosque.

At least seven cars - including three city taxis - were pictured parked on double yellow lines in Tallow Hill blocking the pavement and a cycle lane last week.

The cars were parked on the busy city road at around 9.30pm - when many people were breaking their daylight fast during Ramadan.

Cllr Jabba Riaz, who represents Cathedral ward, said the issue had not been raised with him recently but Ramadan was not an excuse for drivers to be parking next to the mosque illegally.

"Of course you have a major festival going on at the mosque but that is no excuse to be parking illegally," he said.

"Parking on yellow lines is not only blocking the pavement but also blocking the cycle lane.

"It is not only causing an obstruction but it is dangerous.

"I think the drivers are just being lazy really.

"There is a public car park just down the road and I'm sure there would have been spaces on there.

Cllr Riaz, who is also mayor of Worcester, said that he had patrolled the road himself earlier this year and had stopped between 15 and 20 cars from parking in and around Tallow Hill in one lunchtime.

Worcester City Council has said it is has been in conversation with mosque leaders regarding parking.

A spokesman for the city council said: “We are aware of parking problems in this area and have issued fines on several occasions.

“We are liaising with the local community, including the mosque, to remind drivers that they need to park legally.

Worcester Muslim Welfare Association (WMWA) recently announced plans to build a new mosque in Stanley Road with demand and space cited as key reasons for the move.

WMWA said it must move to accommodate its growing number of worshippers - saying the site in Tallow Hill will not be sufficient for the city's Muslim population in the next five to ten years.

The Worcester News was unable to contact a Worcester mosque spokesman.