An Oxford woman has become the first person in the county to be banned from a city car park for selling used tickets and begging at the pay-and-display machines.

Kelly Horwood has been banned from entering Worcester Street car park, in Oxford city centre, for two years following a civil application made by Oxford City Council.

Miss Horwood agreed to abide by the voluntary order at a hearing at Oxford County Court. If she breaches the order, she will be sent back to court for a second hearing.

Bob Peedell, the council's car parks administration manager, said the council took out the order against Miss Horwood after she had made a "general nuisance" of herself to customers at the car park over the past year. He said: "It is something that we would do again if we find it happening."

Graham Smith, business manager for transport and parking for the city council, said Miss Horwood had been obtaining 'unspent tickets' -- which still had time left on them -- from drivers leaving the car park early, and selling them at a reduced price.

He said the problem was momentarily resolved after the council changed the machines to include registration details on tickets, but then Miss Horwood began begging.

Mr Smith added: "We were losing income which we were not happy about. We changed the ticket machines, which stopped the ticket scams, then she started begging."

He said she offered to show drivers how to use the new machines and also gave them the impression that she worked for the council.

Mr Smith hoped the court order would act as a deterrent.

Pc Paul Phillips, residential and homelessness beat officer for the city centre, said: "It doesn't matter where people are begging.

"If it is on council property or the highways, we will look at actively enforcing legislation and working with the relevant authorities to achieve that aim.

"If we can't deal with it we will work with other agencies who can.

"We're all working for the same aim and that is to stop people begging."