A MOTORIST given a penalty notice after parking in the wrong area of a car park for "one minute" is to have his ticket cancelled.

The new owners of the former DR Furniture Express building, off King Street, Blackburn, said they have instructed the parking firm it employs to cancel Trevor Harrison's ticket if he writes to the company.

Mr Harrison, 46, of Aintree Drive, Lower Darwen, was issued with an £80 notice after parking in the wrong area of the car park.

He said he had been into the nearby Farm Foods shop to buy cans of cola for his son.

The two buildings are separated by a car park and signs warn that vehicles parked without a permit in bays to the left, belonging to the former furniture shop, can be ticketed or clamped.

Mr Harrison said he popped into Farm Foods at 3.20pm on Monday and returned at 3.21pm to find the notice.

A director of the company which owns the former furniture shop did not want to be named or name his company, but said the firm bought the former furniture site three weeks ago.

He said it employed National Clamps, Preston, as a last resort because contractors could not access the building to carry out repairs because town centre workers kept parking in the bays despite been asked not too.

The director added that the two parking areas were easily defined by road markings and warning signs.

He said: "It is not a shared car park, it shares the same entrance.

"We do not want to upset anyone but we had no choice but to employ National Clamps because we could not get into the building.

"There is a sign when you drive into the car park and signs in the car park so nine out of 10 people should see them.

"I have explained to National Clamps that if the man writes to them the notice will be cancelled."