A DRIVER was given a parking ticket when he pulled into a bus stop layby because he had a flat tyre.

Aaron Hogg, 22, of Woolshots Road, Wickford, heard the passenger side front tyre of his green Ford Fiesta burst as he drove around the roundabout linking Upper Mayne and Cranes Farm Road, Basildon.

He pulled into the next layby close to the B&Q store, off Upper Mayne, to change the tyre, which happened to be a bus stop.

His vehicle was photographed by Basildon Council’s spy car, which is widely known as the Beast and catches people out for parking illegally, while he was pulled up there.

Mr Hogg could not believe it when he received a £35 parking fine through the post two weeks later.

He said: “I’m so angry about this, as I had no choice but to pull in there. I came round the roundabout, felt my front tyre wobble, and heard a bang.

“I knew straight away I had a flat tyre, so had to get off the busy road. I only drove into the bus lane for safety’s sake.”

He phoned the council to appeal on Tuesday and explained he had no option but to park in the bus stop, because of the burst tyre.

Mr Hogg claims he was told there was no chance of the fine being lifted, as stopping at a bus stop was a serious offence, regardless of his reasons for doing it.

He said: “I can’t believe they weren’t more understanding. There was still enough room for a bus to pull in and out behind me and I wouldn’t have been there longer than 15 minutes. No buses came or left while I was there.”

A council spokesman said: “The member of staff who spoke to Mr Hogg did not say there was ‘no discretion’ in this matter. She simply stated the appropriate way in which he can challenge the notice if he legitimately had a blown tyre. He was initially identified by a traffic surveillance camera parked in the bus stop layby.”