A DRIVER has been hit with a £70 parking ticket after pulling into a bus stop for a matter of seconds.

Paul Robinson received the fixed penalty notice which said his Ford van was "observed from 12.41pm to 12.41pm on June 10".

The 50-year-old says he will go to court rather than pay the Hartlepool Borough Council fine after being snapped by its controversial camera car.

Mr Robinson says he was driving along Wynyard Road, Hartlepool, when he pulled into the bus stop to drop a friend off.

Even though he agrees with the idea of the £40,000 car improving road safety - particularly around schools at peak times - he feels he was unfairly targeted.

The self-employed asbestos stripper from Hartlepool, said: "I was in the bus stop for seconds.

"It's scandalous, even the ticket says I was there from 12.41pm until 12.41pm.

"I realise if I'd pulled the van in, got out and nipped into the shop for a paper and then come back, I'd have been bang to rights as my vehicle would have been blocking a bus stop.

"I wasn't causing an obstruction, I looked in the mirror and there were no buses behind me."

"They're not getting a penny out of me for this one, no way, it's absolutely ridiculous."

The camera car was launched in Hartlepool last month and figures show 438 drivers were issued with fines inside the first four weeks.

A spokesman for Hartlepool Borough Council said: "Clearly, it is against the law for vehicles to park in prohibited areas such as bus stops and anyone who does so runs the risk of receiving a penalty charge notice.

"The camera car has been introduced to improve safety on roads in Hartlepool and we urge drivers to park responsibly."