Northampton General Hospital (NGH) has apologised after a technical problem with its parking system led to disabled users receiving fines.

Two blue badge holders have this week got in touch with Chronicle & Echo saying they have incorrectly received parking fines after parking at NGH.

Paul Muddiman, who has MS, says he has received a few tickets since August. The 54-year-old said: "I've been in hospital to visit my father. My brothers and I are all going to see Dad as much as we can in hospital, as much as possible.

"I've been stitched up with tickets, as my brother had been. He paid his but I haven't. It’s lucky that my son always takes a photo of the machine to say you've paid."

Northampton General Hospital admits a technical fault with its ANPR system may have wrongly issued parking fines to blue badge holders

placeholder image — Northampton General Hospital admits a technical fault with its ANPR system may have wrongly issued parking fines to blue badge holders

Paul had been trying to appeal his tickets with Nexus Group, which manages the car park on behalf of NGH, but was getting nowhere.

He said: “I have got a physical photograph of the machine with the date stamp and everything saying your registration number and I've been trying to put it into the appeals process on the website for the people that run the car park. And they won't accept it.”

Another disabled user, Nichola Joynes, also said she had received a fine despite entering her blue badge details correctly at the machine. She said the issue affected multiple visits to the hospital and believed others could have experienced the same problem.

This newspaper asked NGH about the issue. The hospital says it has discovered that there is a problem with the ANPR machine, which could have affected hundreds.

Director of facilities and estates at the hospital, Rob Drabble, said: "We are investigating a technical issue with our ANPR system and the way it cross matches with our blue badge registrations. We apologise to all any parking customers who may have received a parking notice in error.

"Anyone with a blue badge who has been affected by this issue can contact us about their parking notice on [email protected] and it will be cancelled. Please include the PCN number, car registration and blue badge details."

The fines are set at £60 but are reduced to £40 if paid within 14 days.

Nexus Group has been contacted for comment.