A Hendon driver who was fined for trying to sell his car outside his home has heard he will not have to pay up after all.

Barnet Council had previously stood by the £100 it had fined Anil Patel, 44, of Sunny Hill, on the grounds that using a parking space to offer, display or sell goods or services is banned.

But after an appeal by Andrew Dismore, Labour MP for Hendon, the council backed down and cancelled the fine.

A council spokesman said Mr Patel had contravened a parking order by displaying the for sale' sign in his car, but added: "The parking process team felt there was satisfactory mitigation in relation to this case and therefore the penalty charge notice has been cancelled.

"This was done after an informal representation by Mr Patel when it became clear to our parking process team that he was not aware of the legislation governing this form of contravention of a parking order."

Mr Dismore said the rules were there to stop people selling a large number of cars on the road, not a personal vehicle still in use.

"It was ridiculous and that's why I took it up," he added.

"This is where an important law to deal with a particular ill is taken to the enth degree by some jobsworth. It seems common sense has prevailed in the Barnet parking department for once."