A VIRAL video of a man remonstrating with a parking warden in Bolton town centre has been viewed nearly 30,000 times.

Bolton resident James Brown filmed his exchange with a civil enforcement officer from Bolton Council’s parking contractor NSL in the Churchbank area near Bolton Parish Church.

In the video, which was published on Mr Brown’s Facebook page on Thursday and has already been watched more than 28,000 times, he is seen arguing with the warden and questioning him about a faulty parking payment machine.

Mr Brown has signed up to a North West news agency for his story, meaning we are unable to show images from the video in question.

He points out that one machine is visibly out of order and says the alternative machine on the opposite side is ‘eating people’s money’ — before zooming in on a note left by another car owner, which states that they have also had their money taken with no ticket produced.

In the film, Mr Brown criticises the warden for appearing to produce a ticket for the vehicle with the explanatory note — despite his attempt to explain the situation.

The warden explains that an engineer is en route to fix the broken pay machine, and asks those parked in the area to remain in their cars until he arrives.

Mr Brown, who appears to be filming the exchange on a body camera, repeatedly asks the warden why fixing the machine is not his ‘top priority’ and why he is still giving people parking tickets despite the issues.

In response to the video, NSL has stated that it believes its civil enforcement officer was ‘acting correctly’, but accept that ‘a more considered and full explanation should have been provided to the motorists in question’.

A spokesman added: “We have no control or responsibility for the Pay and Display machines.

“Once the machine fault had been witnessed by the CEO, no more Penalty Charge Notices were issued at that location and a request for a maintenance engineer to attend was made. Only an attending engineer from the maintenance contractor can provide an authorised Pay and Display ticket or refund payment to a motorist.

“We are not authorised to provide any instruction on a Pay and Display machine and our CEOs are briefed to advise motorists to wait for an engineer to attend or use an alternative machine in the event of equipment failure.

“The actions of the CEO were consistent with our priority to maximise compliance and minimise payment evasion.”

The video has prompted a food deal of reaction online, with many facebook commenters siding with Mr Brown.

Colin Liptrot was critical of the officer in question, stating: “A very poor ambassador to the town, it's just the wrong attitude to have. Most of the parking wardens are ok and happy to advise and direct the public, they're generally fair with parking on Churchgate and Churchbank. This guy obviously doesn't give a monkey’s.”