Watch the mini Mini zoom about the streets of Paris - the BBC's Hugh Schofield reports

A combination of British engineering and a French chainsaw means the mini Mini can park in places most cars can only dream of - nose to kerb.

Over the last few weeks, tourists in Paris have gawped, marvelled and even scoffed at the diminutive capsule, called the Nodel and invented by the somewhat eccentric Bernard Lannaud.

Nose-to-kerb parking in Paris

The Nodel, which is one metre short of the real thing, may be small, but as Mr Lannaud is keen to tell to curious onlookers, its fold-down boot is remarkably capacious and strong.

Mr Lannaud was inspired by a report he heard seven years ago on the car radio about how motorways would have to be doubled to handle the rise in the amount in traffic.

The inventor said he looked around him and noticed that most of the cars only had one occupant. He came to the conclusion that it was not a question of doubling the motorway but halving the size of the car.

Mr Lannaud shows off the fold-down boot

Now he has managed to reduce the size of the Mini, his next aim is to halve the cost of parking fines for this pint-size car.

To do this, he has to persuade a traffic-warden to give him a ticket so he can argue his case in court. Not such a difficult task, one might think - but most wardens just laugh and walk away.

He is probably the only person in the world to scream with delight when he does finally pick up a parking ticket. "I have found a kind policewoman! Merci!" he tells her.

If it is granted cheaper parking, Mr Lannaud believes the Nodel has a commercial future. But for now, it remains one man's solution to the problems of urban motoring.