A PICK-UP truck driver has called on fellow motorists to challenge council parking fines after he won his battle to get a ticket cancelled.

Nick McCallum, aged 35, was given a £30 fine when he strayed on to a white line because his car would not fit into the bay.

But he challenged the order and won his appeal when parking chiefs admitted that picture footage of the alleged offence appeared inconclusive.

Mr McCallum, from Oldham, parked his Nissan Navara Adventure pick-up truck on the All Saints Street car park in Bolton town centre on May 11, while he went shopping in town.

He said he was "absolutely incensed" when he returned to find he had been given a fixed penalty fine notice for parking beyond the bay markings.

Mr McCallum said: "I was gobsmacked when I got back and saw the ticket. The car next to me had gone over its bay, so it had been a bit of a tight squeeze to get my car in the space.

"Two of my tyres were slightly touching the white lines, but I was still within the bay and someone else could have easily parked and got out of their car next to me.

"I just thought it was completely unfair. Two police officers happened to be walking past and when I asked them what they thought, they said it was a joke and I should appeal, which is what I did.

"It's not the money, it's the principle of the matter.

"Parking in Bolton is already a nightmare, and this sort of thing would put me off coming back in the future.

"I've now been told that I won't have to pay the fine because the photographic evidence isn't clear. So I feel I've been vindicated and I'm glad I made a stand. I think more people should do the same if they think they're not at fault."

Parking fines are issued by attendants who work for NCP, the company which administers tickets on behalf of Bolton Council.

A Bolton Council spokesman said: "Footage of the alleged offence was not clear, but the wheel did appear to be partially over the bay boundary.

"However, on this particular occasion the penalty will be waived and we will be writing to the gentleman in question to inform him of the decision."