PARKING chiefs in London have had a change of heart following intervention by the Daily Echo after demanding Ringwood's mayor pay a parking ticket issued while he was distributing aid to the city's homeless.

Councillor Danny Cracknell, pictured left, found the £60 penalty charge notice had been slapped on his van while parked outside the Salvation Army in Westminster - despite being told by a traffic warden that he could park there without fear of a ticket because he was on a mercy mission.

Repeated pleas from Ringwood Town Council and the Salvation Army failed to move the City of Westminster's parking department - until the Echo said it would print the story.

Cllr Cracknell said: "We are grateful to the Echo and really pleased that common sense has prevailed."

The ticket was issued after Cllr Cracknell had driven a hire van crammed with clothing and goods to London a few days before Christmas. It is a trip he has repeated annually for the past 15 years without parking repercussions.

A Westminster City Council spokesman said: "Having now reviewed the information supplied via telephone and further consideration, we have now decided to cancel the ticket."