A PENSIONER recovering from a brain tumour has got his money back after being fined £90 for parking in a supermarket car park - despite displaying a disabled parking badge.

Lawrence and Marie Smith received a £45 fine - increased to £90 if not paid within 14 days - after parking at the Co-op in Richmond.

They stayed 20 minutes over the permitted two free hours.

But they displayed a disabled parking badge, which allows three hours of free parking.

The couple wrote to parking company Civil Enforcement Ltd to appeal. But after 14 days, the company had failed to reply.

The pensioners became so concerned about the consequences of non-payment that they paid the £90.

Mr Smith, 70, was issued with a disabled badge after collapsing at the wheel of his car and crashing into a wall last year.

Tests later revealed he was suffering from a large brain tumour.

Mr Smith is now recovering, but his wife said he still struggles to walk.

Mrs Smith, 71, said: "It's all very distressing, as I'm not very well myself, and I don't need this.

"I think it's very rude of them not to answer - £90 is a week's pension. I'm not going to shop at the Co-op again."

In response, Civil Enforcement say it never received the couple's appeal letter, despite it being sent recorded delivery.

The company said in a letter sent after the couple's cheque was received: "Having carefully checked our records, we can find no copy of your appeal letter dated April 30, to which you have referred.

"However, as is our normal practice, we will automatically cancel this ticket upon receipt of a copy of both sides of the relevant disabled badge in respect of you husband, so please submit it to us without delay."

The couple's cheque has been returned to them, pending a resolution.

Civil Enforcement was brought in to manage the car park by the Co-op earlier this year. Since then, several motorists have criticised the company, after being fined for parking too long.

Last month, Mac Bryant vowed to go to court rather than pay up and, in March, Leslie Rowe staged a protest outside the store