A driver who parked to help a disabled man get to his optician’s appointment has called his fine by Kingston Council “crass and insensitive”.

Andrew Pratt, from Thames Ditton, parked in a restricted bus stop in Ewell Road for “about 90 seconds” to help a 91-year-old family friend.

But a camera car spotted him opposite Mistry Optician and he was slapped with a £110 fine.

Mr Pratt said: “There was nowhere to park. If I had gone to the optician in Tesco there would have been a disabled bay.

“There is no sense of supporting local businesses when they have parking rules like they have.

“I think the biggest result I would like to get out of this is for them to at least have a disabled parking bay there.

“It is up to Kingston to sort itself out.”

Mr Pratt has taken his case to the Parking and Traffic Appeals Service.

He even has a letter to the council from optician Mansukh Mistry in his support.

Mr Mistry said: “It is unthinkable that your department should consider this a parking offence, when the amount of time the car was stationary was minimal.

“Furthermore it did not obstruct or hinder any moving traffic on the road.

“I hope this will exonerate Mr Pratt of any wrong doing and the unjustified penalty notice.”

Berrylands councillor Karen George said: “It is really unfair given the situation. It’s not very nice.”

Mr Pratt was handed his ticket last October but his appeal has not yet been decided.

His friend had only recently come out of hospital after a nine-week stay, he told the council.