The bay suspensions were kept secret as a security measure

Sadie Barkham, from Westminster, central London, left her car in a resident's bay before jetting off for two weeks in November 2003.

On her return the Vauxhall Nova had received three tickets, been clamped and impounded because the bay had been suspended due to George W Bush's visit.

Westminster Council cancelled the fines on Tuesday, and promised a refund.

Third ticket

Ms Barkham did not know the bay she had left her car in was going to be suspended because this information had been kept secret for security reasons.

Mr Bush's staff were staying close to the bay in Seymour Street and vehicles parked there were considered to pose a risk.

Ms Barkham was surprised but pleased the tickets were cancelled

Traffic wardens gave Ms Barkham's car a ticket and when it was not moved another warden issued a second ticket within 24 hours.

Police eventually moved the car to George Street but left it on a yellow line where wardens ticketed it for a third time.

It was then that it was finally taken away and impounded.

Ms Barkham had to pay �300 to get the car released and owed a further �100 in parking fines.

A spokesman for Westminster Council said: "If we'd got the car off the street in the first place it would have been out of harm's way.

"We had agreed before the visit that we would move cars affected by the suspensions and return them free of charge.

"Ms Barkham was right in her suggestion that what happened was beyond her control."