PARKING officers have backed down on a fine given to a furious motorist who was handed a ticket despite being trapped in a fire.

Chris Billiet parked his car in the Marks and Spencer's car park in Barter's Walk, Pinner to take his 18-month-old daughter to feed the ducks in Pinner Memorial Park.

With 10 minutes left on his one-hour parking ticket he had gone into the supermarket to buy some milk when a fire broke out.

Shoppers were told to stay inside the store because the fire had started at an overhead heater above the fire exit.

But when the 35-year-old and his daughter, Anna, were finally able to leave the shop, they were greeted by an officer handing them a £30 parking fine.

Mr Billiet, of Sefton Avenue, Harrow Weald, said: "When I came out and said there was nothing I could do and that I had been trapped in the fire, he said it didn't matter.

"I couldn't believe it. I have had a parking ticket before and I have had no problems paying up because it was my fault.

"But this seems unbelievable to me. There was absolutely nothing I could have done.

"It's got nothing to do with the money, it's the principle. Why should I have to pay for a charge that was impossible to prevent?"

Staff at the Marks and Spencer's store wrote to Harrow Council to confirm shoppers were kept inside following the fire, but the council would not back down on the charge until the Pinner Observer intervened.

After the paper asked for a response from the officers in the parking department, we were informed that the fine was being cancelled.

A spokesman for the council said: "Harrow Council deals with in excess of 40,000 cases a year and occasionally mistakes are made.

"The council fully accepts that Mr Billet was delayed due to circumstances beyond his control and the ticket was cancelled as soon as the case was reviewed.

"A letter of confirmation and apology is being sent to Mr Billiet, and staff are receiving extra training to ensure mistakes are further minimised."