A COUNCIL may have to refund up to £70,000 in parking fines.

Since on-street parking meters were introduced in Darlington almost six months ago, 2,333 penalty notices have been issued - equating to £70,000 in fines.

The council has also collected £112,600 in income from the meters.

But now the legality of the penalty notices is being checked by town hall solicitors after the discovery that vital words were missing.

Last week the D&S Times revealed how solicitor Simon Catterall had his £30 fine waived after spotting the gaffe.

The public relations officer for the Tees Valley Law Society received the ticket after parking in Northumberland Street to collect some documents before driving on to Stockton, where he is based.

The council accepted the ticket did not state that it was an offence under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 for the driver to fail to pay the excess charge, and waived the fine.

On Wednesday, a spokesman said the council's legal team was now examining the legality of all the tickets issued.

"Originally, Mr Catterall's case was the only one reported but we have since received four more letters. The Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 was not mentioned on their tickets and we have refunded the fines paid by two of the drivers. The other two have asked for their fines to be cancelled.

"The missing wording was not due to a printing error.

"The wording on the tickets issued is something our legal department is looking at. The tickets we are issuing now are correct."

He said income from meters and parking fines was ploughed back into schemes including transport improvements.

The council does have a record of all fines issued but the spokesman said motorists with a query should contact the town hall on 01325 380651.