YOU couldn't make it up...well, you could but, in this case, it's for real.

I refer to the front page story where community councillor and campaigner Ian Murdoch has revealed that he has photographs of the four elected councillors - and a few community councillors - all parked illegally, particularly in and around Aitken Street, Largs.

He has shown this newspaper the pictures but, so far, has not given permission to publish them. We actually 'sat' on the story for a few weeks because Ian Murdoch did not want distracted from the work he was doing for the recent Highland Games and the Family Fun Day.

Councillor Murdoch, who admits that he has, at times, parked on yellow lines around Largs while going about his window cleaning and 'handyman' business, is making the point that there is no point in certain people jumping up and down and calling for action when they are culprits themselves.

Personally, I resist the temptation to stop on the double yellows outside Tescos in Aitken Street, even on quiet evenings and if I have to walk a short distance to the shop so be it.

Too many local folk are just plain lazy when they sit outside Tescos.

Lest I sound holier than thou I have to state here that, as a non church-goer (part of the overwhelming majority) I think there is a case for allowing the Sunday faithful to park at their churches. Almost all of these faithful folk are in the pensioner category and merit some dispensation on a very quiet Sunday morning as they go about their Godly business while the rest of us turn over in our scratchers.

I'm not saying I told you so but, as vice-chairman of the Largs Development Trust, I proposed that the little used grass area beside the Brisbane Centre in Bath Street should be converted to a car park. Not only would it be an extra area for visitors but the church-goers of St John's and Clark Memorial would use it.

Ironically, Councillor Tom Marshall who poured fire and brimstone on the idea is now trying to persuade the council and police to take away some of the yellow lines from outside the churches.

However, laugh of the week must be the mysterious 'zebra crossing' (see front page) that appeared briefly over the weekend. One resident, fed up with the long-running debate over Aitken Street, decided to sew one. Perhaps the lady could be allowed to lay it down every so often.