A MAN is accusing council officials of lacking compassion and common sense over a £30 parking fine.

Bruce Tinkler, 40, arrived at the home of his father-in-law, Alan Eltringham, 85, on Valentine's Day, to find that the bay outside it was taken.

He left Durham's main Whinney Hill road and turned into a side street, where he found a vacant space, then walked the short distance to buy a pay-and-display ticket.

Mr Tinkler, of Sherburn Village, then spent about 20 minutes fixing Mr Eltringham's doorbell before returning to his car to find a £30 fixed penalty notice.

He rang National Car Parks (NCP), which had issued it, to be told that the side street was for resident parking only.

Mr Tinkler said his protest that he had made a genuine mistake fell on deaf ears. He filled in a form to appeal the penalty but received a letter saying he would still have to pay.

After Mr Tinkler appealed again, the NCP said it would seek Durham County Council's guidance, but has now told him the fine stands.

He said: "I lost my job three weeks ago and £30 is a lot to me.

"Anyone with an ounce of compassion or common sense would know it was a genuine mistake."

Mr Tinkler is planning to fight his case in court.

A spokesman for Durham County Council, for which NCP is a contractor, said: "People must read the notices and read them carefully.

"If Mr Tinkler doesn't think he has been fairly treated, he is free to plead his case in court."