Red-faced council bosses have apologised to a motorist after contractors winched his legally parked car off the ground to paint double yellow lines under it - and then issued him with a parking fine.

Philip Peters, from Queen's Park in West London, initially thought he had been the victim of a practical joke when he returned to find a �30 penalty ticket on his Peugeot 406.

Mr Peters, who has parked his car in the same spot outside his shop for the past 20 years, refused to pay the �30 penalty.

Westminster council, who investigated the incident, has now revoked the fine and apologised for the mistake.

'Complete disbelief'

Mr Peters said: "My reaction was one of complete disbelief.

"I thought someone was pulling my leg and had put the ticket on the car.

"Westminster Council are barmy, they really are."

Mr Peters said residents in the area had been told that work to mark out lines and create parking bays would be carried out on 3 September.

A Westminster Council spokeswoman said: "Upon investigation we have discovered that the ticket was issued in error and we have now cancelled it.

"We will be writing to the vehicle owner to tell him his ticket has been cancelled and to apologise for any inconvenience that has been created."

She said the problem had arisen following of the introduction of new parking controls to allow residents to park near their homes following increased commuter parking around Queen's Park station.