A DRIVER has had his parking fine thrown out after staying too long due to last month’s floods.

Paul Clayden, was shopping in Aldi, Wickford, during south Essex’s wettest weekend of the year.

As the A127 was closed following flooding, he had taken his three-year-old nephews to a nearby cafe to dry out from the rain and work out a different route home to Ward Avenue, Grays, before doing his weekly shop.

According to rules stated by Parking Eye, which runs the car park, Paul, 51, was only allowed to stay there for an hour, but he stayed nearly two. He said: “It’s out of order. It was pouring with rain and I thought there wasn’t going to be a parking attendant going out.

“Traffic was affected because there was torrential rain and we had to check how to get home. It was chaotic.”

Parking Eye investigated his appeal and agreed to throw out the fine as he was a genuine shopper.

A spokesperson said: “Mr Claydon followed our audited appeals process, and as a genuine shopper we were happy to cancel his charge.”