I READ the story about Lesley Shorrock's parking ticket experience (LET, December 24) and believe what happened to me, regrettably, betters it.

I paid the fee for one hour on the same market park, in Blackburn and returned with 26 minutes remaining before the expiry time and found the fixed penalty on the windscreen. The ticket I paid for was still on the dashboard and, further along, the warden was decorating more cars although, in fairness, they may have overstayed their welcome in our friendly town.

As expected, he explained he couldn't cancel the ticket once issued but gave me a telephone number to ring at the town hall.

When I rang I was then asked to obtain a copy of the original ticket and the penalty ticket and forward them to the town hall where they would be dealt with. Nothing was mentioned of the cost of this exercise.

Instead I walked to the town hall and asked if production of the tickets was the end of the matter. I was told documents would be then considered by someone and I would be informed of the decision.

Two weeks later I was indeed informed that they had graciously decided no further action was necessary. No wonder the council tax is so high in this town.

What on earth is going on at the town hall for goodness sake. The recent council TV programme should have been called 'Are you being fleeced?'

TOM HOWARTH, Carlinghurst Road, Blackburn.