A SHOPKEEPER got a £75 fine for littering after she ripped up a parking ticket and threw it on the floor outside her business.

Sarah Conley, owner of Ginger Muffin sandwich shop, Sudell Cross, Blackburn, faces the bill on top of the original £30 penalty after she tore up the ticket in front of a parking attendant who issued it.

Blackburn with Darwen Council defended its staff, saying the attendant followed correct procedures but it is looking into the incident.

It said that although shop keepers were allowed to load and unload for five minutes, Mrs Conley's vehicle was observed for six minutes.

Mrs Conley, of Sawley Road, Grindleton, said she had been parked up in a pay and display area near to her shop when a attendant arrived and told her to put 50p in the parking meter.

Mrs Conley was unloading drinks from the boot of her car and said she saw no reason to move the vehicle as it had only been there for a couple of minutes.

When she refused to put money in the meter the attendant gave her a £30 fine.

A couple of days later a £75 fine for littering was posted to her home. Mrs Conley said she was so incensed by the attitude of the parking attendant she has written to the council to complain.

Mrs Conley said: "I have always parked here when I've been unloading. There was even a van unloading in front of me but he didn't say anything to him.

"I really saw red and ripped up the ticket and threw it on the ground.

"Two more of them turned up and I felt intimidated.

"It's not easy to deliver supplies to your shop as it is but I've really had enough."

Alison Grimshaw, who works for Athertons Estate Agents on the same row as Ginger Muffin, said she saw what happened and has written to the council to back Mrs Conley's story.

Coun Alan Cottam, executive member for regeneration, said: "Where vehicles can load and unload, the parking attendant will always observe the vehicle for five minutes before issuing a Penalty Charge Notice.

"In this instance, they watched for six minutes before issuing a ticket without seeing loading or unloading.

"If the ticket is thrown on the floor, the attendant is duty bound to report the matter as littering."