BBC radio presenter sacked over parking ticket row with council

Gareth Evans, 39, was fired from his mid-morning show after first being suspended by BBC bosses investigating claims that he had threatened to criticise Bassetlaw District Council on air over his wife Jo Evans receiving a parking ticket.

A BBC spokeswoman said yesterday that the corporation was terminating its contract with Mr Evans's production company, Parsley Pyjamas Limited. She added: "This means Gareth Evans will no longer be broadcasting for BBC Radio Sheffield."

Evans was suspended following the row which blew up after his wife, who was eight months pregnant at the time, received a ticket for parking over the lines in Chapelgate car park in Retford, on November 11 last year.

He appealed, claiming the bays were not big enough for their Land Rover and she had been forced to use two bays to be sure of having enough room to get into the driver's side on her return.

The DJ also put details of the case on his Facebook page, which has now been taken down.

His appeal failed but council chiefs in Bassetlaw were so alarmed by his protests that they wrote to BBC bosses complaining about his behaviour.

Evans, who lives with his five sons in the village of Everton, near Bawtry, Doncaster, was suspended last week after David Armiger, head of community prosperity at Bassetlaw Council, wrote to the station.

Before his suspension he said: "The last thing I wanted to do was drag all this through the mud. But the council lacks compassion, I want them to see these were exceptional circumstances.

The parking fine, which is now 50, is set to go to an independent Traffic Appeals Tribunal.