HUNDREDS of pounds of fines handed out on a Weymouth car park have been cancelled following a campaign by drivers and the Echo.

As reported, residents and business owners were left fuming this month after mistakenly being fined for parking at the car park near Brewer's Quay.

Half of the car park is for permit holders and is owned by Dorset Council. The other half is run by private firm Parking Eye - but permit holders were picked up by Parking Eye's CCTV cameras and fined by mistake - with even a Dorset Council parking attendant receiving a fine.

Dorset Echo: Parking Eye allegedly issued fines by mistake to Weymouth residentsParking Eye allegedly issued fines by mistake to Weymouth residents

The Echo took up the case with Parking Eye and the majority of people we spoke to have now had their fines cancelled.

Resident Sally Drysdale bought her daughter a visitor permit, and said she had been left 'very worried' after receiving a £60 fine, which increased to £100 as Parking Eye rejected their appeal.

She said: "Parking Eye changed their mind after the article - so without a doubt it must have been due to the publicity.

"My daughter is 22 and £100 is a lot of money at that age so it was causing a great deal of concern. It's really good news it's all been cancelled."

Charles Calvert, who received two fines, said: "(Parking Eye) has said they will delete my data and cancel my tickets - good result."

The fine issued to Dorset Council has also been cancelled, the authority confirmed, and said it has spoken with Parking Eye to resolve the issue.

Meanwhile, another Weymouth resident who was fined has vowed never to return to the town centre amid demands from bailiffs.

Jack Mortimore said he and his girlfriend Elizabeth were each fined £60 in June after they drove into the car park and left upon discovering the ticket machine only accepted cash.

Mr Mortimore said they each received identical letters from Parking Eye. Both appealed - but only Elizabeth's was cancelled.

IT engineer Jack said: "I've been quite stressed out about it to be honest. I've tried to appeal a good few times and had it rejected, it's just building and building.

"Since then I have received two letters and the charge has risen from £100 to £170. I don't know what to do but know for sure I will not be going back into the town centre."

Parking Eye has been contacted for comment.