QUESTION... where can you buy groceries for around a tenner and end up paying more than 70 quid for the privilege?

ANSWER... M&S Food’s branch in Wey Hill – as one unhappy customer has found out to his cost.

A first-time shopper in the store found himself with a hefty £70 fine after a costly seven minutes in the shop opposite Lion Green.

Confronted with a car park contracted out to Euro Car Parks John Studd, from Midhurst, claims he did all he could to pay for parking but eventually came to the conclusion the car parking machines were out of order.

An outraged Mr Studd told The Herald: “I couldn’t understand the instructions on the machine and was unable to get any money into it and thought it must be broken,”

The irate shopper said he spoke to another customer who also couldn’t get money into the parking machine.

So imagine his frustration when he returned to his car to find that not only had his car been videoed when he arrived at 2.36 pm, it was also pictured as he left at precisely 2.53pm – just seven minutes later.

The letter informed Mr Stubbs the £70 fine would be reduced to £40 if he paid up with 14 days.

Mr Studd said: “I was so incensed that I phoned M&S customer services and was told they didn’t own the car park and I would have to appeal to Euro Car Parks.”

Mr Studd, who has now had to go through a lengthly written appeal procedure against the fine, described the car parking fine as “draconian” and declared: “I will never go there again and will tell all my friends to do the same.

“I can’t believe there is no leeway on parking for seven minutes – it is grossly unfair.”

He also criticised the car parking company for its lack of tolerance and concluded: “It is the principle of the matter.

“I do believe you should pay for parking but not under these circumstances.”

M&S Food failed to respond to a request for a statement on the matter before The Herald went to press.