A GENEROUS Colchester woman says she may think twice before helping others in the future after receiving a parking ticket whilst doing a good deed.

Stacey McCarthy parked in Challenge Way for less than ten minutes while she popped into homeless charity Nacro to donate blankets to those in need.

One week later she received a parking ticket from JD Parking Solutions Ltd, ordering her to pay a parking fine of £100, or £60 if she paid within 14 days.

To add insult to injury, the charity shop didn't even accept the blankets, so Stacey ended up donating them to the Salvation Army.

Gazette: Charitable- Stacey McCarthy received a fine while donating blankets to charityCharitable- Stacey McCarthy received a fine while donating blankets to charity (Image: Stacey McCarthy)

Stacey has now said the fine makes her not want to bother trying to help people again, not least given this is the second time donating to charity has backfired. 

Her husband reportedly lost his job after donating items which were going to be thrown away from the shop he worked at to a special needs schools.

Stacey said: “I had some blankets and we decided to donate them, I typed in homeless shelters in Colchester and it came up with one on Challenge Way.

Gazette: Parking- Challenge Way in ColchesterParking- Challenge Way in Colchester (Image: Google)

“I parked up and walked to where it said that it was - my husband was still in the car still.

"But they couldn’t help because it turned out that was where homeless people can go to get help rather than where they are housed.

“A couple of weeks later I got a parking ticket from when I was trying to find where it was."

Stacey has since appealed the parking ticket, explaining she was trying to help those less fortunate, but JD Parking Solutions Ltd has upheld the penalty.

A spokesman for JD Parking Solutions Ltd said: "We are aware of the parking charge that was issued to a vehicle that had parked in the permit holders only car park.

"The car park has clear signage stating that vehicles require permits, and a charge would be issued for failing to display such permit.

"There was no evidence from the CCTV that the driver delivered blankets to a local charity that had been previously stated.

"Whilst we appreciate that the driver was unhappy with this charge, they must understand that rules are put in place for a reason.

"We would urge drivers that feel they have been issued a charge incorrectly, to use the full appeal's process put in place."