ONE OF B&Q's most loyal and valued customers has boycotted the shop, after getting an £85 parking ticket slapped on his car's windscreen during a visit to the store.

Mel Rowson parked in the car park of the the Statham Street DIY outlet on Monday before walking to a shop in Castle Street with his wife, Mary.

They returned just over an hour later and headed toward B&Q to buy some items for their curtain-fitting business.

But before entering the store, Mr Rowson, 62, was shocked to see a parking ticket on his Renault for what he said was parking seven minutes past his allocated time period.

"I didn't know about this ruling which seems like clamping to me which I thought was illegal now," he said.

"I parked near the bottom end and there were no cars about, which I thought was a bit strange. I bet people know they are doing you now for parking over an hour."

Mel, of Knowsley Road, was such a regular B&Q customer that he had both a loyalty and senior citizens' card for use in the store.

But once he got the parking fine he cut up both cards and sent them to the firm's head office in Hampshire.

Until he receives a reply, he is refusing to pay the fine - which will rise to £135 after 14 days.

Mr Rowson said: "I've parked there for about five years and always go into town first because I don't like leaving what I've bought inside the car.

"The traffic warden showed me a sign near the main road at the bottom, but I've never noticed it before." he claimed.

"It's not the fault of the individual store because it's B&Q's policy. They must be working on a percentage of what they get out of the car park," he suggested.

"The only time I park in the car park is when I'm shopping there. Otherwise, I find it quite a walk into town. They are obviously trying to stop people parking a full day and then going into town," he said.

"I'm not quite a pensioner yet. But I only work one day a week now and £85 is a day's work," he added.

Tickets are issued by Birmingham-based Central Ticketing and there are signs around the B&Q car park warning there is a two-hour maximum stay while shopping in store and that non-shoppers will receive a parking charge.

Store manager Paul Evans refused to comment on individual cases but said he would welcome the opportunity to speak directly to Mr Rowson.

A spokeswoman for B&Q said: "Due to congestion in our car park, which was causing difficulties for our customers, we have introduced some parking restrictions at B&Q Macclesfield.

"These restrictions are clearly indicated throughout the car park and at the entrance to our store. We hope that these restrictions have made parking easier and safer for our customers."