NO ONE could blame Linda Parsons for being surprised to find double yellow lines painted outside her home. After all they were 15 years overdue.

Human error is being blamed by council bosses for the delay in carrying out work agreed back in 1989.

But that has not stopped Linda and her neighbours from seeing red over what they claim has devalued their homes.

"I'm really angry. This was done without consultation and even if it was legal 15 or 18 years ago you can't just implement it like that after that period of time," said Linda.

Southampton City Council bosses have admitted that "human error" meant the lines were never marked way back in 1989 when it was decided they were needed to ensure the emergency services could access Bitterne's Dean Road. But when they finally got around to the work this spring they failed to inform residents.

Linda says her family is unable to park outside her home for the first time in 50 years.

The yellow lines have long been in force on the opposite side of the road and with local parking at a premium the city crown court worker finds herself out of options.

Linda said: "When I came home and saw the lines I was dumbfounded. There isn't any spare parking around. They have overdeveloped the area so there is already excessive competition for spaces.

"It's rubbish about the emergency services needing the lines to access the road. It is bureaucracy gone mad."

In a written statement, the council said: "Public consultations were conducted some 15 years ago when the current (official) pattern of markings was established. Due to human error at some stage, this section of yellow line markings was left unmarked.

"Yellow lines are necessary in this section of Dean Road because the road is not wide enough to allow parking on both sides and still leave adequate room for emergency vehicles to pass."

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesman Mike Gates stressed the need for emergency services to have clear access to properties but believed that if Dean Road had been a big problem action would have been taken faster than 15 years.

He added: "In inner city areas parking is a problem, particularly in older areas where houses were built before people commonly had cars.

"Fire appliances are much bigger today than when the houses were built and the problem is compounded by bad parking."

A spokesman for Hampshire Ambulance Service said: "The service understands it must be difficult for councils to maintain a balance between residential parking and the requirement for emergency service access but we applaud this initiative as it will improve our access to provide efficient patient care to the people of that area."