THURROCK Council has back-tracked and revoked a parking ticket given to a borough man who spent the night by his dying dad's bedside and then let his allotted parking time lapse as he comforted mum after death.

Last month Thurrock Nub News told of the story that unfolded in Argyll Street in Grays - and the council's refusal to back down even when told of the tragic circumstances.

However, after intervention from local councillor Lynn Worrall, the council has changed its mind.

In November last year a South Ockendon man rushed the bedside of his dying father and - after his dad passed away during the night - stayed by his mother's side at her home in Argyll Street in Grays.

In the aftermath of the death, during the following morning, he forgot his car was parked in a residents' permit zone.

After attending to the needs of his mother and other family affairs he emerged to his car and found he had been ticketed.

He acknowledged the officer who issued the ticket would have not have known of the circumstances but he appealed to the council for clemency.

Instead he got a message saying: "Thank you for your explanation. We have taken everything into account you have said. However, there are not sufficient grounds to cancel the penalty charge which is now payable. The outstanding penalty charge is £35".

But today (Friday, 5 February) the man received a message from a senior council parking officer saying: "Upon further investigations and in accordance with the council's policy to be fair and reasonable, whilst we rarely cancel penalty charge notices on unsupported claims, I have - on this occasion only - authorised the cancellation of this penalty charge notice.

"I am sincerely sorry to hear of your loss and wish you well."

The change of heart came after ward councillor Worrall red the Nub News story and followed up the case.

She said: "I argued that the circumstances alone were enough to not proceed. Of course I am just glad that I saw the Nub News story and was able to get them to look at it again and show some compassion."

The man, who continues to wish to remain anonymous, said: "Thank you to Cllr Worrall and to Thurrock Nub News for highlighting my story. Without that this would not have happened."