A YOUNG mother says a traffic warden made a mistake when he slapped a £50 parking fine on her windscreen.

Emma Moore, 24, was shopping in Huddersfield town centre with husband Matthew, 33, and their six-day-old daughter, Sophia, when the baby needed feeding.

Emma, a theatre nurse, did not want to breast feed in public, so went to Boots to use their mother and baby room.

Matthew, a glazier, rushed to the car, which was only supposed to be left for an hour at the short-stay car park near the railway station.

But after a major operation on his elbow Matthew cannot drive and so could not move the car.

He decided to buy another ticket and move the car as soon as Emma returned, hoping to be able to explain the predicament to a traffic warden if one appeared.

But it was no use because the traffic warden still gave him a fine.

Emma said: "I had to feed Sophia because she was screaming. She couldn't wait until we got all the way home to Shepley.

"We were well aware we could only use the parking space at the railway station for an hour, but we hoped the traffic warden might be sympathetic to the circumstances.

"When I went to the office to explain what had happened I was basically told I should have been back on time and that was the end of it.

"We bought a ticket for another hour to prove we were not just trying to stay too long and to prove we knew," added Emma.

"It is hard enough being a new mum, but to be treated like this seems disgraceful. I thought someone might have had some compassion towards the situation we were in.

"I was very angry because of the way we were treated, especially when we got to the office to explain what had happened. I am definitely going to appeal against the fine."

A Kirklees Council spokesman said: "We are very sensitive to extenuating circumstances and will consider them on the individual circumstances.

"These issues cannot be decided by the individual attendants. Hence the appeals process.

"Any motorist issued with a parking ticket has a reasonable period - indicated on the notice they get - in which to make representations to the council as to why the penalty should not be followed through.

"These are all looked at very genuinely and on their individual merits. Mr and Mrs Moore can be assured that their case will be looked at in that manner and in line with how all parking notices are dealt with."