A CLASSIC car enthusiast fined £100 for working on his car outside his own home had it revoked – with help from the Medway Messenger newspaper.

Bob Peters put his 1960 Hillman Minx up on ramps in his road in Strood, after damaging his exhaust pipe, which he believes was caused going over a pothole on one of Medway’s roads.

He had only been working on it for a short while when a policeman and an officer from Medway Council turned up to issue him with the fine. They told him he was in breach of the Medway Act 2005 and was therefore not allowed to work on his beloved vehicle.

The act states it is an offence to carry out car repairs on a highway if it is being done for business purposes, or if a public nuisance is caused.

Mr Peters, 60, who lives in Strood's Carnation Road, said: “I couldn’t believe it. I was only doing a bit of maintenance work.

“I’d had the car up on the ramps for about half an hour and was repairing the exhaust pipe because it had been damaged going over a pothole.”

But despite pleas for leniency, Bob was issued with the £100 fine. But, after hearing of his plight, the Medway Messenger contacted Medway council and asked for a clear definition of the Medway Act 2005, as well as a reason for the fine.

Mr Peters added: “I felt it was totally unfair. I was not causing a big noise, or a nuisance to anyone, and I was definitely not making any money from it, but still I got the fine. That’s why I decided to contact the Medway Messenger to see if they could help.

“It was my 60th birthday when the newspaper called me back and told me the good news. I’m so pleased and thankful that common sense has won the day.

“I felt the police presence, and the over-zealous council officer were way over the top, but thanks to the newspaper I no longer have to pay the fine.

A spokesman for Medway council said: “The Clean Neighbourhood and Environment Act 2005 makes it an offence to carry out car repairs on a highway if it is being done for business purposes or if a public nuisance is caused.

“In this particular case, neither criteria was met, and the fixed-penalty notice should not have been issued. The penalty has since been withdrawn and the council apologises for any inconvenience caused.”

Eight hundred fixed penalty notices have been issued since the act came into force.