A motorist has urged people to ‘stand your ground’ when it comes to disputing car parking fines.

The Echo previously reported that 71-year-old Linda Smale had been receiving ‘hostile’ and ‘intimidating’ letters as she disputed Euro Car Parks claims she had not purchased a ‘valid pay and display permit’ at its St Nicholas Street car park in Weymouth.

The dispute dates back to September after the registration was incorrectly printed on her ticket for which the company called a 'major keying error'.

But just two days after the Echo published Mrs Smale’s story, she received an email confirming her appeal had been successful.

This is despite the car parking firm initially denying her claim in October, and she said they ‘did not give any reason’ as to why they decided to uphold her appeal.

She had been preparing to take the dispute to court after a debt recovery firm implied that this was the next step after she had cut all correspondence.

Now that the fine has been quashed though, the 71-year-old from Weymouth has offered some advice to others who may find themselves in a similar position.

Mrs Smale said: “Sometimes you can win against these bully boys.

“The only advice I could give is to stand your ground, don’t give in and don’t pay. You have to stand up to these bully boys - it is just not right.”

The whole ordeal now means that Mrs Smale choses to do most of her shopping in Dorchester, rather than Weymouth, where she lives.

In fact, she had received the news the fine had been rescinded whilst in the county town shopping.

She added: “It is mainly that yes, which is a shame because I look to support local businesses.

“I was in Dorchester shopping and it came through mid-morning and it said my appeal was successful.

“They did not give any reason, they just said it was successful and that the notice has been cancelled.”

Euro Car Parks and the British Parking Association, of which the car parking firm is member of, have previously been contacted for comment on the issue but have yet to reply.