A woman believes she has been "mugged" after receiving a parking fine despite paying to park along the high street.

Cara Demetriades, of Copthall Drive, received a £60 fine for parking along The Broadway in Mill Hill, despite paying for a ticket.

The fine was issued as Ms Demetriades, using PayByPhone parking, entered the code for the neighbouring parking bay to her own, despite it being only steps away.

Ms Demtriades believes the five separate zones along the road are designed to "catch people out" who are paying to park, rather than focusing on those who are trying to avoid paying.

She said: "Having paid for my parking in The Broadway and then receiving a fine, I feel that Barnet Council have mugged me for £60 with deliberately unsure signage and ridiculous segregation of a small high street."

"As all of the zones have the same charge, restrictions and payment methods, the only possible purpose is to catch out local people who intend to pay and make a legitimate mistake.

"If they made the road all one zone only people who don't pay for their parking would be penalised not those who pay."

Ms Demtriades also believes this system is in place in other high streets, such as the High Street in Barnet, and is concerned other honest people will be caught out.

Cllr Dean Cohen, chairman of the environment committee, said: "The council has had pay by phone parking in place for a number of years.

"Each bay has its own parking place and is classed as one parking place and each bay has its own location payment code.

"Within close proximity of each parking place, there are information signs facing the road, clearly specifying the location number and details that people need to quote or enter upon paying. These are also in place at Mill Hill Broadway.

"If residents are unsure of what location they are in, we would advise them to contact the council on 020 8359 2000."

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