Motorists parking on a pavement are avoiding fines because a warning sign has vanished.

Oxfordshire County Council said that if the sign, by the BMW Mini plant, in Watlington Road, Cowley, Oxford, had been stolen, than drivers were 'devious'.

Where other warning signs remain, then parked cars have been ticketed.

The council is now trying to get a new warning sign and talking with managers at the car factory to encourage their staff not to park on the pavements.

Last Monday, more than 80 cars were spotted parked on the path, and this Monday there were 92.

Council parking manager Helen Crozier said: "We believe that one of the signs may have been removed specifically for the purpose of making this area unenforceable.

"If that is the case then that is a very devious thing for someone to have done.

"It takes quite a long time to order a sign and get it into place but that process has started.

"Thames Valley Police have confirmed that the area on the footpath behind the zig zag lines is not enforceable as the markings only cover the carriageway. We are looking at ways of getting around this situation as well as getting the signage problem sorted out.

"We believe the majority of vehicles belong to BMW workers.

"So we appeal to BMW to speak to their staff about the dangers that are being created for pedestrians by this inconsiderate parking."

The council is now trying to bring in double yellow lines along Watlington Road.

Photographs taken last week by the county council's parking enforcement team show dozens of cars parked along the path between Watlington Roundabout and the railway bridge opposite the factory.

BMW spokesman, Alexandra Brooks, said the company provided enough spaces for its staff.

She added: "Some people have contacted the plant suspecting it could be people working at the plant although there are a number of different units down here.

"We put out regular communications to discourage staff from using pavements and public highways and make available adequate parking for everybody.

"There are often spare spaces in the car park but we cannot control everyone."

Brian Lester, Blackbird Leys Parish Council chairman, said: "If they had no- where to park I would understand it but BMW supply plenty of parking at the factory and behind Tesco.

"There is no real need for it. It is totally antisocial.

"We counted 81 cars on either side of Watlington Road on Monday morning.

"They park up, blocking the footpath, just to stop them walking a couple of hundred extra yards."