NO ONE is above the law. That was the message a York parking attendant delivered to the Lord Mayor on Sunday.

Coun Janet Greenwood, who is now approaching the end of her time in high office, was attending the Jane Stainton Sermon, an annual service held by the Guild of the Merchant Adventurers.

After the service in All Saints' Church, in Pavement, the Lord Mayor and members of the Company proceeded to the Merchant Adventurers' Hall, in Fossgate, for a meal.

John Nowell, an electrical engineer and keen amateur photographer, from Copmanthorpe, was spending a day in York with his wife, taking advantage of Residents 1st week.

He said: "My wife and I had been around the Castle Museum - it was very good. We'd gone back into town afterwards and were walking down Fossgate towards the car park in George Street.

"I noticed the Lord Mayor's car, then I saw the ticket and thought it was a bit of a grin. I wonder if she'll pay it.

"I bet she won't pay for it out of her own pocket!"

A City of York Council spokeswoman said: "We can confirm that the Lord Mayor's car received a parking ticket at the weekend after one of our parking attendants saw it parked on double yellow lines in Fossgate.

"The driver had left the vehicle to escort the Lord Mayor from a function because she was in full regalia, which poses a security issue.

"However, the illegally- parked vehicle was treated the same as any other and the fine has already been paid."

The spokeswoman confirmed that the £30 fine had been paid out of the Lord Mayor's budget, rather than Coun Greenwood's own pocket.

Coun Tracey Simpson-Laing, Labour's transport spokeswoman, said: "I don't want to criticise any member of the Lord Mayor's staff, but obviously the parking attendants have a job to do and any vehicle which is illegally parked should be dealt with in the same way - whether it belongs to the Lord Mayor, a councillor, a council official, or a member of the public."

Colonel James Finlay, the clerk to the Company of Merchant Adventurers, was not available for comment as we went to press.

Updated: 10:53 Tuesday, January 31, 2006