Last year's alien visitations seem to have done more for Londoners than simply provide light entertainment; it's provided original excuses. A motorist in Southwark claimed distraction caused by a UFO resulted in his illegal incursion into a bus lane. Other excuses include the notion that rain negates all parking restrictions and a sick dog. Unsurprisingly, the eccentric excuses aren't all on the motorist's side - TfL and Wandsworth council were been nominated for an award by AppealNow for slapping a ticket on Thames whale rescuers despite permission to park from the police and even a National Blood Service truck in situ complete with freshly-bled donors didn't escape the beady eye of Sutton council parking wardens. Photo by daveograve