Tuesday 28th August 2001

Red-faced council bosses apologised to a motorist after contractors winched his legally parked car off the ground to paint double yellow lines under it – and then issued him with a parking fine. Philip Peters, from Queen’s Park in West London, initially thought he had been the victim of a practical joke when he returned to find a £30 penalty ticket on his Peugeot 406. Mr Peters, who had parked his car in the same spot outside his shop for 20 years, refused to pay the £30 penalty. Westminster council revoked the fine and apologised for the mistake.