Fined in 65 seconds: driver who stopped to look at parking sign

A driver has been hit with a £120 fine after stopping for just 65 seconds so she could check for parking restrictions.

Claire Hallam, 45, was issued with a £60 penalty after CCTV cameras caught her in Lee High Road, south-east London.

Mrs Hallam, of Deptford, says she stopped in a loading bay to check the sign. She said: "There was a big P that said you could park for 20 minutes."

But a girl from a nearby bike shop came out to tell her she could not stop. "I jumped back in and drove off," she said. "It's not like I caused any inconvenience to traffic."

However, a TfL spokesman said she was using the bay outside its operating hours: "There is no stopping for any period of time along the red route on Lee High Road between 4pm and 7pm."

Mrs Hallam, 45, has to pay £120 after losing her appeal.