Santa and his helpers were slapped with a parking fine while spreading festive cheer for charity in Poynton.
St Nick’s alter ego, John Hampton, of Poynton Round Table, was greeting children at this year’s annual Poynton Fest, on Park Lane, which had been closed for the event.
Afterwards Santa’s helper Chris Robson, a fellow Round Table member who uses his 4X4 Isuzu Trooper to tow the sleigh, parked out of sight off the main high street on the Co-op car park.
But seven days later he was sent an unwelcome gift – a £90 parking fine – in the post by a car park management firm for overstaying – by just 12 minutes.
The car and sleigh were being used by the Round Table to encourage families into Poynton and raise money for charity which they do every year.
Chris said: "Round Table do a great job raising money for charity and spreading happiness and goodwill.
"The best bit is that the high street was closed to traffic so Santa’s sleigh was probably the only vehicle in the Co-op car park at that time.
"Even if I had wanted to leave 12 minutes earlier this would have been impossible due to the throngs of people in the street."
The Round Table immediately appealed to Parking Eye, the company which manages the car park on behalf of the Co-op, asking them to reconsider the fine, but did not receive a response.
Then last Thursday, after the Express contact the company, they emailed Chris to let him know they would cancel the ticket as a ‘gesture of good will’.
Chris added: "As a registered charity all the money collected by Round Table must be used for charitable causes so Santa’s Elves and helpers would have had to pay the fine personally.
"I would have been prepared to go to court to challenge this. I’m just thankful they decided to show some festive spirit and rescind the ticket."
