A PENSIONER who refused to pay a parking fine on principle is calling for the first hour of town centre parking to be free.

John Gaisford, aged 77, resents having to pay for parking, claiming road tax should cover the same costs and that his pension should not be paid to the council in the form of parking fines.

On May 27 Mr Gaisford parked in Leigh's Spinning Gate car park while he went to the market. When he returned to his car minutes later he was greeted with a £15 parking ticket.

"I didn't buy a ticket because I was only nipping for some potatoes, but when I got back and saw the fine I bought one for 80p."

An angry Mr Gaisford wrote to the council, the police and eventually parliament to ask why people should pay for parking when they already pay road tax, petrol tax and insurance.

"I think at least the first hour of parking in town centres should be free, you don't pay when you go to big supermarkets and after all we are spending money in the town any way.

"There is something wrong with this system. Look at the money they spend on yellow paint, wouldn't that be better spent on car parking? I refuse to pay the fine and I am doing this to benefit all motorists."