AN ELDERLY man carrying out his “civic duty” will boycott Bournemouth after a wrangle with the council over a parking ticket.

John Bunnell, 81, was in town to make a witness statement at Bournemouth police station when he received the penalty charge notice.

Having driven nearly 30 miles from his home near Dorchester to Bournemouth to make the statement, Mr Bunnell had parked on the same road as the police station and bought a ticket, which unfortunately slipped on to the passenger seat.

Despite it being clearly visible, he was forced to pay a fine, even after he sent the council a copy of the ticket.

“It’s just so unfair and un-English,” the pensioner said.

“You could clearly see the ticket if you’d have looked in the windscreen. If I’d have not paid then it would be the same penalty. But I had paid and sent a copy of the ticket to the council to prove it.

“I had been invited to the police station to make a statement because I had witnessed an assault in Bournemouth. I was just doing my civic duty.

“I’ve still got the ticket but apparently the so-called enforcement officer said he didn’t see a ticket there.

“I know you have to have it on the dashboard or windscreen and I did put it there but it slipped off.

“This has caused me a lot of worry and distress and it shouldn’t happen.

“Common sense should be used.

“I will never visit Bournemouth again and I mean that. I like the town and have brought my grandchildren to various events, but not any more.

“I will go elsewhere.”

Elaine Smith, deputy parking services manager for parking management and enforcement, said: “Our parking enforcement officers always look inside vehicles to see if parking tickets have fallen off the inside of the window.

“In circumstances where the council rejects a challenge we will send a letter which explains the further appeal process available to the motorist.

“We then send a notice to the owner of the vehicle at which time they can make a further appeal and following this, if the council issues a rejection the motorist can appeal to the independent adjudicator.”

She said the process was designed to be “simple and fair”.