A MUM is planning to take a dispute over a parking ticket all the way to the European Court of Human Rights after losing an appeal.

Jean Park, aged 60, said she was "furious" that the National Parking Adjudication Service had refused to scrap her fine even though it agreed she had made a genuine mistake.

Mrs Park, of Tynesbank, Walkden, was penalised at Bolton's Central Street pay and display car park when she parked her black Ford Escort without realising that fees had gone up by 10p.

She paid 90p believing it would entitle her to an hour long stay but returned to find a warden issuing a ticket.

In fact, her money had bought her a 60p half-hour ticket and the machine, which does not give change, pocketed the extra 30p.

Dismissing her appeal at a hearing in Manchester, adjudicator Susan Hotchin said: "I am satisfied Mrs Park genuinely thought she had paid for one hour.

"But the fee had increased to £1 almost one year prior to the offence and I am satisfied the sign at the entrance to the car park is clear and she had notice of the fee payable."

Mrs Park had driven to Bolton with her daughter on June 15 last year when the incident occurred.

Her 30-minute ticket was 17 minutes overdue when she returned to her car.

After the hearing, Mrs Park said she was angry she had been ordered to pay the full £60, even though she had objected within 15 days, during which time she would have received a 50 per cent reduction on her fine had she paid it.

She said: "I made a mistake, I had not been to Bolton for a while and put in what I thought was the full fee.

"I believed that if I explained the situation to someone with some common sense they would understand what had happened. It is this 'jobsworth' attitude to parking in Bolton which is forcing people to shop elsewhere."

A spokesman for the Council said: "Jean Park took the case to an independent adjudicator who found in our favour. The parking fine in Bolton is £60 which is discounted to £30 for early payment. It is not £30 rising to £60 after a certain time. Prices are displayed very clearly on our parking machines. Customers should always check when buying a ticket. Pay and display machines state that no change is given."