MOTORIST Shantilal Patel was booked because his car was sticking out of a bay that was just 1.4 metres wide - not even big enough to accommodate a Mini.

Mr Patel, aged 47, of Morris Green, Bolton, put his case to the council and appealed for the fine to be cancelled.

But he was told to pay-up or have the amount doubled to £60.

Mr Patel, who runs a newsagents in Crown Lane, Horwich, said: "The bay should never have been there in the first place. Not many cars could fit into something so small. When I parked there, I was as close to the kerb as possible but I still got a ticket. The parking attendant didn't use any common sense."

Mr Patel was booked outside the Premier Store in Chorley Old Road, Bolton, on April 27. He decided to take a stand, and called in a solicitor to take up his case. Mr Patel's ticket was eventually cancelled and council chiefs plan to alter the bay.

A council spokesman said: "We can confirm the ticket has been cancelled. Each case is assessed on the evidence that is provided and we are re-marking the bay to the correct dimensions."