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Elderly man fined over DIY zebra crossing for his disabled wife

An elderly man is paying the price for painting a zebra crossing near his home after multiple requests to his local council went ignored.

Laurie Phillips, 78, was forced to take matters into his own hands when his local council ignored multiple requests to introduce a safer crossing on his busy street for his disabled wife.

Mr Phillips, from Dorset on England’s south coast, painted the crossing early one morning with two friends.



However council workers were quick to report him to the police and his creation was quickly removed.

Mr Phillips argued his DIY crossing had made the area “dramatically safer”, but local authorities agreed and was slapped with a fine of AU$233 after being interviewed by police.

He said he warned the council he would install the crossing for his 76-year-old wife Estelle, who uses a mobility scooter, if they failed to do so.



He went on to argue that he was never told not to install a crossing and believes the debacle is a waste of police resources a

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council have since said they will “carefully assess” if a crossing was needed at the location.

Images: Bournemouth News/Australscope

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Laurie Phillips, zebra crossing, family, police, fine