A disabled woman fined �50 for having her blue badge displayed upside down has been refunded her money after two appeals.

Rosemarie Whymark’s husband Jeff had placed the permit after parking in New Road, Seven Kings.

The badge was still visible but the number on it was obscured due to its position on the dashboard, when the fine was issued on March 15. More than six months later, Redbridge Council has cancelled the fine after the elderly couple appealed twice.

Mr Whymark, of Ley Street, Ilford, said: “Many boroughs use the same list of mitigating circumstances whereby this penalty charge notice (PCN) would be cancelled without a lengthy appeal including in Epping, Thurrock and Havering and the three adjacent boroughs. It’s just not fair.”

He added: “I had just taken my badly disabled wife to the doctors at Oak Tree Medical Centre, New Road. We needed to see the doctor urgently and there had been a cancellation but it was in 30 minutes so we had to hurry.”

It was while they were in the doctors they received the fine, despite speaking to the warden on duty afterwards.

Mr Whymark said: “It seems to me that Redbridge see disabled drivers as a soft target and are vigorously pursued where a little compassion should be employed.”

A spokesman for Redbridge Council said: “It is the duty of the driver to make sure when parking on a parking restriction they ensure that the disabled badge is displayed correctly together with the accompanying clock set at the time of arrival.”