MY five-month-old grandson was admitted as an emergency to Southampton General Hospital and my son parked his car there in the early evening.

The baby's admission necessitated my son and his wife waiting until after midnight for consultations and treatment. My daughter-in-law stayed with the baby overnight while my son returned to the car at about 12.30am, some six and a half hours later.

The parking charge was £16 and to add to his stress the machine initially rejected two of his £10 notes.

My husband and I were baby-sitting for our three-year-old granddaughter until he arrived at 1am, tired, exhausted and very worried.

Surely, no one should incur parking charges of this enormity for less than eight hours. In Southampton city centre evening parking is free.

I feel strongly that after 8pm there should be no charge at the hospital.

The care and attention the baby has had has been excellent and for this we are obviously grateful. The staff have been kind in every way. He will need antibiotics for three years, so that is an indication of how poorly he was.

MRS BRENDA MARGERESON, Thornhill, Southampton.