A tired-looking Falmouth fire engine with flat tyres and battered paint work has caused upset on the Packet’s website at thepacket.co.uk.

Readers took to the comments section of an unrelated article about camper vans to complain about the vehicle, which has sat by the side of the road on North Parade for at least the past year.

Comments board user “GrahamHarris” said: “The wheels are actually digging into the tarmac of the road causing damage so maybe our beloved and efficient council will do something some day?”

Another user who goes by the name of “meerkats” said the fire engine could be a health and safety issue.

“What if some youngster climbed aboard to have a look and got injured,” she said.

“Who would take responsibility for it being there then?”

A spokeswoman for Cornwall Council’s community and environmental enforcement team told the Packet that they had been in contact with the owner of the former fire engine “who has stated he has plans for the vehicle.”

She added: “As the vehicle is not classed as abandoned, is not causing an obstruction and is parked on a highway where there are no parking restrictions we are unable to remove it.

“We have spoken to both parties about the vehicle, as have the police and local MP.”