Fuming driver Richard Garrety could be stung with an £80 fine – for parking in a ‘free’ car park.

Self-employed joiner Richard, 49, paid £1 to park in a council car park outside Huddersfield Railway Station but mistakenly left his car in a ‘free’ station dropping off bay.

Richard, of Newsome, thought he’d paid for an hour’s parking and returned after 42 minutes to find an £80 penalty notice on his Ford Fiesta.

“I couldn’t believe it,” said Richard. “I paid for the ticket and parked near the steps to the station. It wasn’t my intention to break the rules or get away with anything.”

Richard had been caught out before when he parked in a disabled space at the other side of St George’s Square so always makes sure he pays.

He parked up at 9.54am on Monday and bought the 80p ticket for an hour. He didn’t have the right money so put in £1 and the machine doesn’t give change.

Richard went to get his mobile phone repaired and called at McDonald’s before going back to his car and finding the ticket.

Sign in Huddersfield Railway Station car park .

The notice – issued by APCOA Parking UK Ltd, of Uxbridge, Middlesex – said his offence was “parking for longer than permitted in a restricted area.”

It turned out he had parked in a ‘free short stay’ parking area operated by the station for rail users only, with a 20-minute maximum stay.

“I know people will think it is funny that parking in a free car park has cost me £81 but I didn’t see any signs,” he said.

“There were plenty of spaces so I could have parked anywhere but I left it where I did. Afterwards I saw these tiny signs but the nearest was five bays away from where I parked.”

Richard has appealed the fine and said: “I just think it’s very petty. I am self-employed and if I treated my customers this way I’d never get any work.

“People might laugh but sometimes it gets under your skin. We’re all getting fed up of silly rules and regulations. We need some common sense.”

A spokesman for First TransPennine Express, which operates the parking area, said: “We appreciate all feedback from customers and will review the existing signage.”

A spokesman for ACPOA said signage was regularly reviewed and any appeal would be dealt with.