POLICE chiefs issued an apology last night after a hungry officer parked on double yellow lines and nipped into a sandwich shop.

The officer pulled up alongside illegally-parked cars in a busy town centre and, instead of laying down the law, proceeded to join them.

He then queued in the Subway shop, in Skinnergate, Darlington, before returning with his lunch and driving off.

A shopper who captured the incident on camera said: "What was most strange was that there were other cars parked on the yellow lines at the same time.

"When the police van came, I assumed it had come to throw the book at them.

"But instead, it just squeezed in between them."

Yesterday, Durham Police confirmed that the officer's craving for a butty had landed him in hot water.

A spokesman said the officer had admitted parking illegally.

He said: "The officer, who started work at 7am, had a particularly high workload that day and had not had the opportunity to take a refreshment break.

"On his way from one job to another, he decided to stop for something to eat. He was parked in the spot where this photo was taken for less than four minutes."

The spokesman added: "He has been formally admonished.

"He also faces the very real possibility of having penalty points added to his police driving licence.

"The officer has been told in no uncertain terms how his thoughtlessness might have been interpreted by those passing by."