A MINIBUS driver has branded York parking chiefs "vindictive robots" after claiming they fined him when he was unloading five disabled passengers.

But the city's parking manager has hit back, saying that the fine would be refunded if any evidence was presented to support the claims.

Bob Lowmas, 63, said he was given the £60 parking ticket, discounted by £30 if paid within 14 days, on February 25, when he left Selby and District Multiple Sclerosis Society's minibus in York's Parliament Street.

The minibus carries a disabled badge and a city centre parking permit, requiring three parking spaces to operate a tailgate to move wheelchairs.

Mr Lowmas, of Moss Green Lane, Brayton, said: "There wasn't sufficient room in St Sampson's Square so I went to Parliament Street to unload everyone.

"They were cold and I decided to get them inside Brown's Caf before I parked.

"There were no traffic wardens about so I explained the situation to a policeman who said there shouldn't be a problem."

When Mr Lowmas returned to move the minibus he found a traffic warden issuing a ticket.

The warden could not cancel the ticket and told him to contact City of York Council's parking office.

Mr Lowmas wrote to the council twice to appeal, but they said the ticket would be upheld unless he provided evidence to prove his claims.

He was warned that a further failed appeal would mean he would have to pay the full £60 fine.

Mr Lowmas said he could not risk this so sent the council a cheque for £30 last Friday.

In the accompanying letter, he wrote: "You cannot be humans and must be robots programmed to be vindictive against charity disabled minibus drivers."

But Bill Bird, the council's parking services manager, said the vehicle had been illegally parked and there was no sign of activity around it. "It's absolutely ludicrous for anyone to think that we would issue a penalty charge notice to a vehicle that was unloading disabled people," he said.

He added they had contacted the police to ask whether an officer had given Mr Lowmas permission to stop there, but the force had replied that Mr Lowmas needed to write to them for that information to be provided - and he had not done so.

Mr Bird said if they were given evidence that a ticket had been issued incorrectly they would cancel it and apologise.

Updated: 12:08 Wednesday, April 30, 2003