They may not always be a motorists’ best friend but traffic wardens have been proving they have hearts of gold with a number of kindly acts.

Brighton and Hove City Council has released details of civil enforcement officers going beyond the call of duty to help out men, women and pets in distress in 2013.

The city’s 74 wardens have been praised for being “the eyes and ears” on the street and coming to the aid of care home residents, a man who had mislaid his car and an injured cat.

One warden stepped in after he saw a woman in a wheelchair having difficulty getting home with her shopping on April 27.

After the woman explained that she had been unable to find a taxi to take her from St James’s Street to Upper Rock Gardens, the warden came to her rescue and pushed her hundreds of metres to her |home.

Another warden was approached by a group of beachgoers on October 9 who had lost one of their friends who was last seen going in for a swim.

The traffic officer called the police and coastguard and stayed with the group during the search.

The warden took the initiative to speak to fishermen in the area who provided crucial information which helped to locate the missing friend safe and sound.

Other acts of kindness recorded |in the past 12 months include a warden working with police to return a vulnerable woman who had become lost in Kingsway in Hove on August 6 back to her nursing home while in November a warden came across an elderly and confused gentleman who was lost.

The man had a card with his care home details and the female officer was able to get the police involved and then accompany him back to the home.

In November two wardens stopped their car near Hove Park to rescue a Springer Spaniel called Sherlock who had escaped from his home in Hove Park Road.

The wardens checked Sherlock’s tag before returning him to his owner, Harold Cuthbert, who was so grateful he wrote to The Argus in praise of the wardens.

On April 22 wardens found an injured cat in Pembroke Avenue, Hove and helped to make sure the animal received veterinary treatment.

Councillor Ian Davey, lead member for transport at Brighton and Hove City Council, said: “Our civil enforcement officers play a crucial part in managing available parking space and making sure vehicles are not causing problems for other people.

“It’s clear too that they do a lot more, often being the ‘eyes and ears’ on the street and helping people in difficulty.”