A DRIVER defied basic parking laws by lodging their van across some steps - on a public pathway.

Daily Echo:

This photo shows a blue Fiat Multipla mounting a grass verge and resting itself across what appears to be steps in Back of the Walls, Southampton.

The shot was captured by @MCDEventsUK on Twitter, who said: "A new meaning to off road parking!! How is this even possible?"

Residents were left baffled and bemused as to how a car managed to get itself stuck down the path.

The dark blue Fiat was spotted this morning and remains wedged between the Friary building and the grass verge of the city walls off Briton Street, in Town Quay.

It's presence attracted attention from passersby and those who had heard of it through word of mouth.

Puzzled onlookers tried to work out how the feat had been achieved as a car park leading to the path has bollards in front, and the path exit has bollards across it and in the other direction the entrance to Briton Street is also narrowed with bollards.

The windy footpath is also narrowed by lampposts, railings and the city walls.

There was damage to the right side of the car, with pieces of side bumper strewn on the path and signs of tyre marks on the verge.

PCSOs down at the scene were at a loss as to how the car had ended up where it was, but confirmed they had been called down because of a number of reports that it was blocking the path.

Tayla Welsh, 19, of Queens Road, Southampton, a cleaner, said: "It's not really possible to get through that's what we were thinking.

"That must have taken some precision parking.  Why park there?"

David Kinchington, 27, a cleaner, of Queens Road, said: "It's a bit weird, there's hardly any room for it to get in there."

Gemma Coutts, 30, of Lower Canal Walk, Southampton, a chief mate with Red Funnel Ferries, said : "I'm genuinely confused as to how he's got there, he cannot have come from this way.

"He's not parked on double yellow lines."

Toby Hughes, 25, of Lower Canal Walk, an officer in the merchant navy, said: "we're a little bit baffled.

"We have come down to have a look and see how he managed it and I don't have a clue.

"I wonder if someone's playing a prank."