Furious motorists who were fined after parking in temporary disabled bays have had their penalty notices cancelled.

Parking officers slapped nine cars with tickets in Rochester after they parked in spaces reserved for disabled people during the Medway Mile run recently.

The spaces in a car park off Northgate were allocated for drivers with blue badges for a 24-hour period.

But drivers, including John Johnson, claim they were unfairly fined as the temporary restrictions were not displayed clearly enough.

Mr Johnson, 50, from Strood, refused to pay his ticket.

He said: “Parking was a problem that night and eventually I found a space in the car park opposite the Corn Exchange.

“When I came back a warden was putting a ticket on my car and he pointed out a small sign saying no parking for 24 hours.

“All they had was a tiny plaque on the wall right next to a ‘have you paid and displayed?’ sign.

“I was angry when I saw the ticket. The council should be encouraging people to go into their high streets.”

A Medway council spokesman originally stated that no parking changes had been made.

But after being given photographic evidence, the council said it had cancelled fines as a “goodwill gesture”.

The spokesman said: “Nine motorists who parked in an area reserved for disabled parking during the Medway Mile event on July 26 received penalty charge notices (PCNs).

“A sign in the area advertised the temporary restriction.

“As this area was reserved for disabled users and the relevant sign was on display, the PCNs were issued correctly and legally.

“We do understand that some motorists may have been confused as a ‘have you paid and displayed?’ sign was still visible.

“Therefore, as a gesture of goodwill we have cancelled all nine PCNs.”