Until somebody tells me what law I'm breaking I shall keep up my private war. Peter Hicks, farmer

Mr Hicks, who sells his produce in London's Covent Garden market, had attached a mechanism normally used to electrify fences to his car as part of a private war against traffic wardens.

It gives out a shock of about 2,000 volts but Mr Hicks insisted the amperage is low, rendering the device "harmless, apart from a bit of a flash and a nasty jog".

Police disarmed the car and had a long chat with Mr Hicks but he has yet to find out what action they will take against him, if any.

"Until somebody tells me what law I'm breaking I shall keep up my private war. I have plenty more of these lovely machines," he told the press later.

Mr Hicks already pays £30 a week in fines for parking his 50 lorries and his Land Rover was getting tickets almost every day.

Four weeks ago he electrified his car initially as an anti-theft device.

He has not had a parking ticket since he made sure all his lorries were electrified by being parked bumper to bumper behind his Land Rover.

"I've watched quite a few wardens cop it, trying to put a ticket on my truck. They gave up in disgust - and shock!" he said.

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