CAR owner Garry Betts escaped a £60 parking fine -- and went home with an extra £11 in his glovebox.

He was nearly driven to despair when an attendant placed a penalty notice on his Vauxhall Corsa, saying it was not properly parked in Bolton's Central Street car park.

But father-of-one Mr Betts bought a camera and took some pictures of his vehicle. His fine was eventually quashed after he sent the photographs to Bolton Council -- and was even given £11 to cover his expenses. "I was so angry when I saw the penalty notice stuck to my windscreen," Mr Betts said: "There was plenty of time left on my parking ticket and I couldn't understand why I'd been fined.

"So I decided to fight it -- and won."

Mr Betts, of Vincent Street, Bolton, had to buy an extra parking ticket while he waited for his film to be developed.

He put the ticket and the receipt for his disposable camera in the envelope with his pictures before sending them off.

He said: "I told the council I couldn't park properly because it was the end bay and there wasn't enough room.

"I said I wanted the fine quashed and asked for £100 as a goodwill gesture. I even said I'd accept £50 if I was paid within 14 days.

"I didn't get £100 or £50, but I did get £11 in vouchers to pay for my camera and my extra parking ticket."

Mr Betts, who drove home a happy man on this occasion, is not always so lucky.

Just a few weeks later he received another penalty notice after parking in the same spot in the same car park.

But he said: "I paid up this time. I don't mind paying fines when I'm in the wrong -- I just don't like paying them when I know I'm right."

No one was available for comment from Bolton Council.