CAMPAIGNERS in Bolton and Bury say more people should "challenge" private parking fines now that a £50 cap has come into force.

This comes after yesterday's government announcement that fines are to be capped at £50, down from £100, while car parks will also have to display prices more clearly, use a fairer appeal system and give drivers a 10-minute grace period for lateness.

Tottington-based welfare advice and advocacy group Fightback4Justice says that fines can be devastating for people on low incomes, pushing them further into poverty and debt and that they unfairly target disabled people at hospitals and hopes more people will now contest them.

Founder Michelle Cardno said: "You've got to make allowances, people visiting hospitals are more likely to be disabled or elderly so its disproportionate.

She added: "As far as hospitals go, its an absolute nightmare."

Ms Cardno said fines could often be challenged on appeal, but people feared to do so in case they failed and incurred higher costs.

She said: "In our experience, any appeal because someone's disabled the Equalities Act kicks in so people should be given extra time."

She added: "From our point of view, a lot of the appeal should be challenged and this might make them more willing to do that."

Testimonies collected by the group found cases where a woman with a heart condition was given a £100 fine for overstaying 10 minutes, while another struggled to fill out an appeal form due to being dyslexic.

Another prominent opponent of private parking fines is Cllr Sean Hornby, who represents Little Lever on Bolton Council.

He explained that several of his constituents had been unfairly targeted by fines, including an elderly man who received a fine for parking in a disabled bay despite displaying a disabled badge and another who was hit by £70 fine while visiting hospital.

Reacting to the cap, Cllr Hornby said: "This is good news, however I think they need to take it even further."

He added: "Certainly at the hospitals its just too complicated, its just stupidity.

"So, this is a step in the right direction but more needs to be done."