A pensioner claims his granddaughter’s birthday was spoiled after he was slapped with a parking fine.

Andrew Simcox, 67, travelled from Somerset to Petts Wood for the celebration, before being punished for parking with two wheels on the edge of a pavement.

He was left despairing after being fined the equivalent of half his weekly pension for parking illegally in Sherborne Road, which he described as “greedy councils preying on ordinary people”.

"At the end of the day you can’t park on pavements," he told News Shopper after his fine on October 29.

"But I thought it was pathetic to fine me. It wasn’t like it was a narrow pavement and there was plenty of room for pedestrians. If anything it gave more space for passing traffic and buses.

"This was an additional way to tax drivers."

Andrew said he did not appeal because he thought he would lose, which would end up costing more money.

However, he did write to Bromley Council to express his annoyance.

He said: "I have been driving for 51 years and have never before been fined for having parked with just two wheels on the edge of a wide pavement.

"I have also worked for 51 years paying all my council, and now retired and receive £109 a week state pension and your council think it fair to charge me £55 for having two wheels on the edge of a pavement. That is just diabolical.

"I had driven from Somerset to celebrate my granddaughter's eighth birthday, and everything then got spoiled by your pathetic traffic warden."

A Bromley Council spokesman said: "If a motorist has been issued a penalty charge notice that they feel is incorrect, then they have the option to appeal and it is noteworthy in this example that the driver has not chosen to appeal and we would encourage drivers to take advantage of the appeal process as needed.

"Motorists who know the Highway Code will know that rule 244 states that drivers must not park partially or wholly on the pavement in London and should not do so elsewhere unless signs permit it.

"This rule has been in place since 1974 and seeks to protect pedestrians using pavements, including those using wheelchairs and pushchairs, and helps prevent damage to kerb stones and paving which can be caused by vehicles, which would then be repaired at council taxpayers' expense."