A DRIVER who was given a parking fine after mistakenly using the wrong pay-and-display machine is calling for it to be moved.

Bill Williams says the machine outside the town-centre car park at the junction of All Saints Street and Clarence Street could be misleading motorists.

The machine isues tickets for parking in on-street spaces in Clarence Street.

Mr Williams, aged 52, parked in the car park, but with the machine only yards from his space and separated from it by railings, he mistakenly used it to pay for his 60p ticket.

He returned to his car to find a parking warden issuing a penalty notice.

"It's unbelievable," said Mr Williams, of New Heys Way, Bradshaw, who had parked while visiting a bank.

"This is so misleading because the machine is at the entrance to the car park and not clearly signed. It should be moved.

"I asked the warden if there was a difference in the tickets and he said they were identical, so I said what are you doing?'"

Mr Williams appealed against his fine by letter, claiming he had not seen a separate machine on the other side of the car park.

He won, and Bolton Council parking bosses have promised to review the situation after Mr Williams urged them to move the machine away from the car park.

Mr Williams said: "The guy at the garage across the road came out and said at least four people a day were getting tickets for the same thing."

A council spokesman said: "Although the parking attendant had acted correctly in this matter, we took a common-sense approach to Mr Williams' appeal. He was able to prove he had a valid pay-and-display ticket and had made an honest mistake."

The spokesman said it was important drivers use the correct machines because the maximum parking periods can vary between car parks and on-street parking areas.

"We appreciate Mr Williams alerting us to the potential confusion. We plan to review the situation and will take any appropriate action required," he added.