A WOMAN who locked her keys in the car and could not leave a supermarket car park was shocked to receive a parking ticket in the post days later.

After shopping in Aldi, Gillian Dimmock unlocked only the boot of her car to load her shopping.

It was only after she’d closed the boot door that she realised her keys were inside with the bags of groceries.

Mrs Dimmock called her husband and waited with her car for him to bring a spare set from home.

She was not challenged by the supermarket staff and did not see a parking attendant.

But, a few days later Mrs Dimmock received a £70 fine and a letter saying that she had stayed in the carpark 12 minutes longer than allowed.

“I could not believe it,” she said.

“I just feel as though something should be put up to let customers know because it is a big thing for people.”

Parking at Aldi in Pheasant Street is monitored by ParkingEye which uses cameras to clock customer’s cars in and out of the site.

Shoppers are allowed one hour and 30 minutes of free parking. If they go over the time limit they are automatically sent a fine.

Mrs Dimmock paid £40, a reduced amount because she paid within a given time.

“They said there was no proof that I had locked my keys in the car and if I had gone back into the store they would have put it in a book,” she said.

“But I did not go back into Aldi because I thought it was pointless.

“What if you break down?

“I just want people to know if you have got an issue with your car you need to go into the store and tell them.”

Your Worcester News contacted ParkingEye and after investigating the matter the company has now agreed to cancel the ticket. A spokesman for ParkingEye said: “As Mrs Dimmock appears to be a regular user of the site, and bearing in mind the exceptional circumstances which led to her being in breach of the parking limits, we are prepared to rescind the notice.

“However, we would strongly recommend any motorist to alert the relevant store manager if such an incident was to happen again.”