BUSINESSWOMAN Debbie Forbes thought she was seeing double when she received her second fine in a year for parking LEGALLY in exactly the same spot!

Ms Forbes had parked her silver Vauxhall Zafira outside her shop "Debbie's Toyz" in Butterstile Lane, Prestwich, on Monday (May 10).

The car was parked on faded double yellow lines but as Ms Forbes had successfully contested a fine last June based on the same parking "offence", she thought she was safe.

But when a neighbouring shopowner rushed in to tell her she was getting a ticket, she saw red and challenged the traffic warden.

Ms Forbes said: "I said I was right to park there but the warden said she had been told to book anything that was on double yellow lines. I was so mad I refused to even open the ticket at first. I refuse to pay it."

The 36-year-old contacted Bury Council and explained how she had been stung in the same way last year.

She said: "At the time all the yellow lines were faded and I parked there while I was unloading at the shop. I got a ticket and accepted I was on double yellow lines. However, soon afterwards a policeman told me the lines were in such poor condition that even he would find it difficult to book anyone. I reported this to the council and they agreed to revoke the fine."

Since Christmas a section of the lines has been repainted up to the point where Ms Forbes parked her car, but the rest of the road, up to the junction of Carr Avenue, still has faded yellow lines.

"The faded lines have been there more than 10 years," said Ms Forbes, "I understand they were painted by mistake and instead of burning them off, the council left them to fade over time. But now some wardens book cars and some don't.

John Foudy, parking services manager, said Ms Forbes had been fined by mistake and her ticket would be cancelled.

He said: "The traffic regulation order stops at the T-bar, just before the faded lines start. We will get the lines burned off or blacked out to avoid any more confusion for both motorists and attendants."