VOLUNTEERS at a Teignbridge charity have been hit by an unwelcome parking ticket while helping a Ukrainian refugee family.

HITS, which helps homeless people and supplies food parcels in Teignbridge, appealed against the £60 fine, issued at a Torquay hotel, explaining why their van had been parked there.

But the private parking firm refused.

The charity had declared it did not intendto pay the fine.

But, since being contacted by the Mid-Devon Advertiser, the parking firm, Smart Parking, has confirmed it will cancel the charge as an ‘act of goodwill’.

HITS chairman David Cox was delighted with the outcome.

He said: ‘Thanks go to the Mid-Devon Advertiser for this positive result.

‘The cost of the fine will pay for a lot of food to help people in need.’

The charity, which helps people across Teignbridge, had been asked to supply help and food to the Ukrainian family who were staying at a hotel in Torquay.

Although outside the area HITS covers, the family had been placed at the hotel by Teignbridge Council.

One of the charity’s three vans, which was unmarked, was used to deliver the parcel.

But the driver had struggled to find anyone at the hotel’s reception and had left the vehicle while he was waiting.

David explained: ‘The driver had parked up to deliver the parcel but he couldn’t find anyone in reception to help.

‘So he spent just under 15 minutes parked while finding someone to take the food pack.

‘But we received a penalty charge notice.

‘We explained the situation to the parking company but our appeal was rejected.

‘We don’t intend to pay, we’re a charity helping people in crisis.’

A spokesman for the parking company said: ‘Smart Parking were brought into manage the car park at the Inglewood Hotel to stop parking abuse and make sure guests can always find somewhere to park.

‘In the case of this particular driver they parked for nearly 15 minutes without paying or validating their stay at reception, so they correctly received a charge.

‘However, now that we have confirmed they are a charity we are happy to cancel the charge as an act of goodwill.’