A WOMAN is claiming victory in her War of the Roses court battle with a Yorkshire council, which gave her a parking fine when she was eight months pregnant.

Lynsey Vickers was heavily pregnant when she parked her car in Huddersfield's market hall car park on January 20 last year.

Then a teacher training student at the city's university, she returned 37 minutes late to discover a £30 fine had been issued and has since been locked in a legal battle with the council since.

Her pleas for clemency fell on deaf ears and the 28-year-old teacher from Burnley prepared for a courtroom battle.

After originally planning to plead not guilty, Lynsey decided to admit the offence at Huddersfield Magistrates Court, but made a speech to the magistrates outlining the circumstances.

She was fined the minimum amount, £30, but not asked to pay costs or a further £45 due under council rules which says fines must increase if unpaid.

Lynsey said: "I think this has been a victory.

"Although I did have to pay the fine, it was the minimum amount and magistrates had to impose it because I pleaded guilty.

"I'm just glad it's all over and I can breathe a sigh of relief.

"Although I admitted the offence I had always intended to pay. The ticket took me up to noon.

"Although I was cutting it fine, I expected to be back in time.

"I was nearly eight months pregnant and really big. It took me longer than I anticipated."

Since the birth of her four-and-a-half month old son Archie, who was born at Burnley General Hospital weighing 9lb 6oz in March, Lynsey, 28, had been battling to have the ticket rescinded.

She wrote to Kirklees Metropolitan Council, but was told: "The fact remains you were parked for a period of 37 minutes without a valid ticket."

Knowing she was late, Lynsey, who lives with husband Simon in Clover Crescent, Burnley, bought a second ticket before returning to her Land Rover.

She added: "I went straight to the machine to buy another ticket, but while I was doing that the attendants issued the fine.

"I appreciate I was over my time and I understand time limits are there for a reason.

"However, the fact I bought another ticket shows I had every intention of paying."

A Kirklees Metropolitan Council spokesman said: "We don't comment on individual cases.

"This is now a legal matter."