WAS it a prank or just a bit of bizarre parking, and how was it even possible?

Those were the questions bemused Southampton residents were asking themselves after a car managed to get stuck down a city centre footpath.

The dark blue Fiat was spotted yesterday wedged between the Friary building and the grass verge of the city walls off Briton Street in Town Quay and attracted much attention from passersby, some of whom had heard about 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 tyre marks on the verge.

It had to be removed using a crane from a recovery truck to winch it up off the footpath at about 5pm last night.

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

Daily Echo:

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

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.”

Police said enquiries were ongoing to try and trace the car owner.