TOWN councillors have missed out on buying four parking spaces on Canvey after being outbid at auction.

Canvey town council wanted to spend £8,000 on four parking spaces outside its offices in High Street.

The town council has been renting out the parking spaces for £800 a year, but wanted to take ownership of the spaces. However, the town council lost out to a mystery buyer who spent a whopping £16,500 on the spaces during the auction.

Ray Howard, the Conservative representative for Canvey Island West, said: “I take the view that the parking spaces are in a very strategic location, but we agreed we would only go up to £8,000.”