A woman was distressed to receive an “unfair” parking fine after she did not return to her car in time due to her disabled mother’s transport bus breaking down.

Kay Russell, who lives in Chipperfield, planned to go Christmas shopping at the Range, in St Albans Road, Watford, with her 79-year-old mother Barbara on December 18.

She had arranged for the Hertfordshire County Council Dial-a-Ride transport service to pick her mother up from Lancaster Court Care Home, in High Road, Leavesden - where she lives due to being unable to walk after having a brain tumour two years ago.

Ms Russell waited in the Range’s car park – where the limit was two hours – however the bus broke down during the journey.

Although replacement transport was provided, Ms Russell was too preoccupied with ensuring her mother arrived that the parking limit dropped to the back of her mind.

The 50-year-old called the ParkingEye company “heartless” after discovering this week that she would not be let her off the £60 fine.

Ms Russell said: “I was worried sick about my mum so I wasn’t even thinking about the parking limit at the range.

“Dial-a-Ride reorganised the morning to make sure my mum’s trip wasn’t cut too short but it did mean she was very late.

“I sent ParkingEye proof of this complication but I received a letter from them this week saying this wasn’t a good enough reason and I still have to pay.”

Ms Russell says she paid the fine as she was “too exhausted” to fight against it.

However, The Watford Observer contacted ParkingEye and a spokesperson has since revealed she will be refunded for the fine.

They said: “We encourage people who have received a parking charge to appeal if they think there are mitigating circumstances, and instructions about how to do this are detailed on all communications and on our website.

“In this case the driver has had her charge cancelled as a gesture of goodwill.”