Most people go to China to visit the Forbidden City and Great Wall.

But Worthing Borough Council leader Keith Mercer had a much more pressing interest on a recent visit to Beijing – parking wardens.

Just before flying out to the Far East with his wife, Heather, councillor Mercer was coming under increasing pressure to do something about Worthing's controversial parking regime.

The town was in uproar over the high cost of multi-storey parking and the “over-zealous” behaviour of wardens, known as parking enforcement officers.

So while walking the street of Beijing, councillor Mercer studied Chinese wardens and how they worked.

He also noted their dark uniforms, which were far drabber and less conspicuous than Worthing wardens' bright blue garb, which had led to them being nicknamed Smurfs and Bluebottles.

Councillor Mercer told fellow councillors: “I actually studied parking enforcement in Beijing.

“If anywhere has got parking problems it is Beijing, with 28 million people driving cars and motorbikes.

“They call their parking enforcement officers parking advisers, and I have seen them on the streets advising the public.

“They don't get shirty if you park six inches over the line.

“One of the problems we have is we have given our enforcement officers the wrong name and we have dressed them inappropriately.

“Our parking enforcement officers are too obvious and it frightens people, it really does.”

Councillors have now agreed to reduce the number of wardens in Worthing from 19 to ten.

They also want a review of the uniform, and an end to wardens patrolling in twos and threes, which “intimidated” visitors.

Do you think there are too many wardens in Worthing? Tell us below.