A council that issued a disabled great-grandmother with a £70 parking ticket while she donated her belongings to charity has backed down.

Blue Badge holder Anne Belworthy refused to stump up the cash after Canterbury City Council hit her with a fine in Herne Bay.

Although some signage exists around Bank Street warning cars are prohibited between certain hours, the 87-year-old argues their visibility is poor and unfair for drivers.

The great-grandmother-of-two was ticketed for leaving her hatchback in the pedestrianised zone while she was dropping off donations to the Strode Park Foundation charity shop.

But the retired BT clerical officer says signage on the road does not make it clear that she was not permitted to park where she did.

“I thought it was so unfair,” said Mrs Belworthy.

“I was entitled to park on a single yellow line. I saw absolutely no signs.

“I was in the charity shop for no more than 30 minutes. I just dropped off the stuff and had a look around at some books.

“I was so furious when I got back to the car and saw I’d been hit with a fine.”

The long-time Herne Bay resident explained that she needed to park close to the store because an arthritis condition makes it difficult for her to get around on her feet.

But after parking in what she thought was a legal spot just after midday on Wednesday, July 19, Ms Belworthy was asked to pay a £35 penalty.

She appealed to the city council but a few weeks later received a letter of enforcement telling her that the fine had gone up to £70 and could increase further if not dealt with.

But after being contacted by KentOnline, Canterbury City Council said it would cancel the fine as a “gesture of goodwill” while it reviewed signage in the area.

"While Mrs Belworthy's ticket was issued correctly and we responded to her appeal on July 25, we have cancelled her ticket and fine as a gesture of goodwill,” said a council spokesperson.

"While we appreciate she was delivering to a charity shop and her Blue Badge was displayed, she was parked in the Herne Bay pedestrian zone after the ban on vehicles came into force at midday.

"We will review the signs in the area to double check they make the restrictions clear."

Blue Badge holders are legally allowed to park on single or double yellow lines in Canterbury for up to three hours so long as it is safe, but not in a pedestrianised zone.

The pedestrianised zone around Herne Bay town centre is in effect Monday to Friday, from midday to 4.40pm, and on Saturdays from 5.30am to 6.30pm, with two signs at the junction of Mortimer and Williams Street.

“I’m glad that they’ve cancelled the fine, but I wish they could say where the instructions are about no parking, because I’ve never seen anything,” said Ms Belworthy.