A charity bus service was given a parking ticket for dropping a disabled passenger at a bus stop.

A Sutton Community Transport minibus was slapped with the fine for pulling into a bus stop in Middleton Road, Sutton, on May 20.

It was photgraphed by a CCTV car as staff helped the young girl from the vehicle.

Despite the minibus dropping the young people off from a Sutton Council scheme, the council insisted the ticket should stand.

Michael Skinner, chief executive, at the charity, had an initial appeal to the council's parking service turned down.

He was due to have the appeal heard independently by the Parking and Traffic Appeals Service in two weeks time.

But after ringing the newsdesk to explain what had happened, the Sutton Guardian contacted the council, who agreed to cancel the ticket.

Mr Skinner said: "It was clear this ticket should not have stood from the start, but I am grateful the council has seen sense."

He said he wanted to see legislation changed regarding parking enforcement of disabled transport.

Currently his buses can be given tickets for letting passengers on and off at a bus stop, while taxis, postal vehicles, and construction vehicles can all escape fines.

He said he believed current rules were contrary to the Equalities Act 2010.

Councillor Simon Wales, the council's transport spokesmna said: "Sutton Council takes a firm but fair approach to parking. We always try to balance common sense with the safety of motorists, and as a result we issue one of the lowest numbers of parking tickets in London.

"It is illegal for any vehicles, other than buses, to stop in bus lanes. There are obvious dangers in doing so, and it we take it very seriously.

"However we accept that this is a special case. Our parking staff have spoken to Mr Skinner to explain why it is important his staff adhere to parking regulations and, as a gesture of good will, we have cancelled the penalty charge notice.”