A pensioner is demanding an apology from Medway Council following a parking fine dispute.

Pamela Penfold, of The Maltings, Rainham, was issued a £35 ticket in August 2008 after leaving her car outside KFC takeaway in Chatham High Street.

Mrs Penfold said she had unwittingly driven through a No Entry sign which had been turned around so it was not visible from the road.

Despite photographic evidence to argue her case, Mrs Penfold’s appeal was rejected by Medway Council and her fine was doubled to £70.

The council claimed Mrs Penfold had driven through two clear No Entry signs and all signs were facing the correct way. A spokesman also stated no works or alterations had taken place in the area.

Mrs Penfold said: “The council was making me look like a liar, which I am not.”

“There was only one no entry sign and it was facing the wall so there is no way I would have been able to see it from my car.

“I returned to the spot a few days later to find the sign had been turned around to face the right way again.

“Then after my first appeal was turned down, I returned to the area again to discover a second No Entry sign had appeared.

“This was all done before the council spokesman said no works or alterations had taken place.”

Mrs Penfold took her case to the Traffic Penalty Adjudicator. Five months after receiving the fine, she received a letter to say Medway Council no longer wished to pursue the case and her appeal had been successful.

She said: “I achieved a victory, but what a waste of taxpayers’ money.

“We had five months of stress, with the fine still hanging over us while we went on holiday. For some people the stress would have been unbearable.

A spokesman for Medway Council said: “We are sorry for any distress this may have caused.

“Our review of the file showed an administrative error which led to the council to take the decision not to contest this penalty charge notice at adjudication.

“This particular area is still subject to a ‘no waiting at any time’ order and the motorist would have passed two very clear no-entry signs, plus five other signs advising motorists that the area is a restricted zone.”