A Lancashire Evening Post reporter has told how he was spat at and called names as he went undercover as a traffic warden.

Investigative reporter Nick Owens spent three weeks as a warden in Preston after the paper was besieged with calls from people complaining about them.

Nick won a job after spotting an advert in the Evening Post, and after passing an aptitude test he spent two weeks training and then a week patrolling the streets.

His findings resulted in a six-day series of stories where he revealed the internal pressure to issue tickets that wardens appear to be under.

He reported on the huge amount of verbal and physical abuse the wardens receive, including how one warden was shot and another threatened with a baseball bat.

The paper also revealed secrets that wardens are told never to reveal to the public, such as if you get a ticket keep it attached to your windscreen because you can only get one ticket a day.

Nick told HoldtheFrontPage: "We did this because it is one year since the council took over from the police in issuing tickets in Lancashire.

"I was surprised at the level of abuse the wardens had to put up with.

"The torrent of hate from the public was incredible. I was spat at and called everything under the sun.

"I was also surprised at the scores of tickets that were issued and the amount of cars parked in contravention. The ticket hotspots were pointed out to me and it became clear how easy it was to get lots of tickets each day."

Nick said the investigation had been welcomed by readers.

He had also impressed his bosses during his time as a traffic warden - at least until he was discovered - but was not tempted to swap jobs permanently.

He said: "Let's face it the public don't think much of journalists or traffic wardens.

"When I was found out, I was told by the NCP press office I had a job as a warden waiting for me if I wanted it because I did okay.

"But I don't think I'll be invited to the Christmas party."