A coastguard volunteer helping police search the scene where the body of a young woman was found returned to his vehicle to find he had been given a parking ticket.

Members of Falmouth Coastguard Rescue Team were called in by Devon & Cornwall Police after the woman was found near the river bank at Garras Wharf in Truro, close to the Tesco store, at 10am yesterday.

Her death is being treated as “unexplained” by police, who are continuing their enquiries.

As part of their investigation they called in the support of coastguards from Falmouth and Portscatho, along with Falmouth Inshore Lifeboat and the police helicopter, to carry out a comprehensive search of the river from Truro to Malpas.

It was after returning from this search that the Falmouth team member discovered that a zealous traffic warden had ticketed his vehicle.

A spokesperson for Falmouth Coastguard Rescue Team said: “Our team member has been in touch with the local authority and we’re hopeful that, in line with their published policy, this matter will be swiftly resolved.”

Cornwall Council’s Civil Parking Enforcement Procedures state that official coastguard vehicles will receive automatic dispensation from on-street waiting restrictions while attending emergency situations, while fines issued to private vehicles being used by coastguards would be cancelled if proof of an emergency could be given.

No one at Cornwall Council was available to comment today but will be contacted on Monday for a response.

Police have put out an appeal for information about the circumstances surrounding the death of the woman, and would particularly like to hear from anyone who saw or heard “anything suspicious” between 6pm on Thursday and 10am on Friday in the area of Malpas river, particularly near to Tesco.

Anyone who can help should call police on 101, quoting log number 239.

The family of the woman has been informed, but police say her name will not be released until a formal identification process has been carried out.