Andy Marshall – who has had knee replacements in both legs, a kidney transplant and has arthritis in both knees – was stunned to receive a £75 charge for overstaying at the Gerrard Centre in Gerrard Street, Ashton.

The number plate recognition system claims he parked in the two-and-a-half-hour limit area from 8.16am until 14.43pm but Mr Marshall, of Chestnut Grove, Ashton, is adamant he could not have been out for that long.

The 45-year-old, who is on long-term sick leave from his job at a distribution centre, believes the system got it wrong and counted two short trips as one long trip.

He said: "There is absolutely no way I'm ever out that long. I just go there some mornings to get prescriptions from the chemist and I'm lucky if I'm out of the house 40 minutes at the most.
"I might have nipped back into town on that day, I can't actually remember.

"But I've heard of this happening to other people – the system doesn't actually clock that you have left the car park."

He says his disabled badge was displayed and is outraged at the fine, which would double to £150 if not paid within a certain period.

Coun Paul Tushingham, however, has helped get the charge wiped from the record.
He said: "The car park is privately owned but, as a goodwill gesture, owners HMG allow disabled people to register to park there."

After being contacted by the Wigan Evening Post and Coun Tushingham, HMG got in touch with Andy over the weekend and told him they were waiving the charges.