Grieving couple fined for parking in empty hospital grounds

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Irene Walker, 60, and her partner, Charles Davy, 67, were called to Newham General Hospital and told Ms Walker's 91-year-old aunt, Grace Rising, had less than an hour to live.

After Mrs Rising died, the couple returned to their car to find a penalty ticket had been issued at 5.20am.

Mr Davy said: "Who would have thought there would be people putting tickets on at that time? First of all it was like a feeling of disbelief. Then it hit my partner. It just devastated her even more.

"The penalty is nothing but the effect it has on top of everything else - it was like the straw that broke the camel's back.

"I think the hospital don't realise the effect this has on people."

The hospital has cancelled the ticket because of the "exceptional circumstances".

Acting chief executive Graeme Jolly said 24-hour pay-and-display parking "enables us to carry out patrols and ensure vehicle and personal security on the site is maintained round the clock."