THE only traffic warden in Britain never to issue a ticket has died after suffering a heart attack while he was out cycling.

Mr Angus MacRitchie, 77, was as popular as he was renowned in the Ullapool area of Wester Ross for never having booked anyone in his 12 years as the town's only traffic warden.

The native of Swainbost in the Ness area of Lewis, Outer Hebrides, preferred to keep the traffic flowing with a good humoured reminder to illegally parked motorists in the holiday town.

He became the West Coast fishing port's first traffic warden in 1974 and stayed in the post until 1986 when he retired.

Mr Sandy MacLeod, 30, of Ullapool, Mr MacRitchie's stepson, said: ''He was such an easy going man. It was difficult to fall out with him.''