A POLICE officer, who was caught on camera parking in a parent and child space, was attending a shoplifting incident, a spokesman has confirmed.

An eagle-eyed Warrington Guardian reader spotted the young policeman using the space on February 6 at B&Q - despite not having a child in the car.

There were also plenty of spaces for the officer to use.

But a spokesman said: "Officers were responding to a shoplifting incident at the store and were mindful of the implications of parking in a parent and child bay. 

"In all incidents we advise officers to avoid preferential bays if possible."