A disabled pensioner from Barnet was given a ticket for parking just over 50cm from the kerb, despite the road being blocked by large wheelie bins.

Les Pratchett, 78, parked in a side road off St Albans Road near four large wheelie bins, leaving his vehicle for less than an hour.

Despite being a blue badge holder, when he returned he had been fined £110 for parking just over 50cm from the kerb despite the road being blocked by the bins.

Mr Pratchett said: “It was completely out of order. I was parked right up to the end by the four wheelie bins.”

He added: “They were just making an example.”

Mr Pratchett, who paid half the fine, has had multiple knee and hip operations, saying he is now “full of metal” and finds it difficult to walk too far.

He walked to Age Concern on Barnet High Street before stopping into Dory’s café, where he has been a regular customer since it opened more than 60 years ago.

Barnet blogger Mr Mustard noted the regulation was designed to prevent double parking, and blue badge holders can park on double yellow lines for up to three hours.

He wrote on his blog: “The trouble is that councils, acting by their traffic wardens, forget why the regulation exists and ticket anything which is more than 50cm from the edge of the carriageway without applying any common sense or thinking of the purpose why the Regulation exists.

Barnet Council’s Commissioning Director for Environment Jamie Blake said: “Drivers are not permitted to park more than 50cm from the edge or the road as this may cause an obstruction.

"This also applies to cars parked while displaying a blue badge. We have been in touch with the driver to explain why the penalty charge was issued in this instance.”