A Skipton woman is in shock after receiving a £500 Court bill for not paying a 70p parking ticket.

Lynne Mullinder told the Herald that she went to Skipton Magistrates Court on Friday to explain herself and left bewildered when she was ordered to pay costs of £439.45 and fined £100.

Miss Mullinder's troubles started on February 5 this year when she parked her Nissan 4x4 car in the car park behind the Town Hall in Skipton.

She did not have any cash to pay at the ticket machine so intended to go and get some money and then pay her parking fee later.

Miss Mullinder, who lives on Pinhaw Road, explained that she went into Skipton Building Society and believes she was away from her car for 30 minutes at the most.

When she returned to the car park she had incurred a £35 fine.

She said: "I rang the council and explained why I had not bought one and that I had no money."

After the ticket was issued weeks of correspondence ensued between Miss Mullinder and the council, during which time she sent her parking ticket to them.

"I said I would go to court and explain," said Miss Mullinder.

Earlier this month, she pleaded not guilty in court to breaching an order regarding the use of parking places and her case was adjourned for a trial.

Miss Mullinder, who works as a probation officer in Bradford, said that she had never thought for one minute she would be punished so severely and added that her mind had been a blur when the magistrates ordered her to pay more than £500.

She explained: "I thought they should've have given me a chance. They have not listened. I think they have been totally unreasonable. Common sense has gone out the window along with decency."

She also said that she felt very annoyed with the council for taking her to court.

"I have lived in Skipton all my life. I have always paid for my parking. I do all my shopping in Skipton. I pay my council tax and they can't give me leeway on a few minutes," she told the Herald.

Craven District Council's director of economic, community and customer services Jonathan Kerr said: "In line with Craven District Council's standard internal procedures Miss Mullinder was given the right to appeal against the excess charge.The appeal was turned down.

"She was also given the opportunity to pay the excess charge of £60 (reduced to £35 if paid within 7 days).

"As Miss Mullinder declined to pay the excess charge we had no option but to pursue this matter in the courts."