ALAN Penrose, who organised a visit to Devizes for a group of Romanian orphans, has condemned as mean-spirited Kennet District Council's decision not to cancel a parking ticket.

Mr Penrose, from Cardiff-based Support for Romania, had arranged for the 18 children, who had been singing in a choir, to go on a canal boat trip leaving from Devizes Wharf on June 26.

Because of roadworks in Chippenham, the convoy of minibuses was held up and organisers were concerned that the boat would leave without them.

Mr Penrose said: "We just parked the two minibuses and rushed for the barge.

"On our return we noticed excess parking tickets had been put on the buses as we had failed to purchase a parking ticket, having not seen the notices on entering the car park.

"We wrote to the council, explaining the situation, and they replied saying that under the circumstances they would reduce the fine by 50 per cent, from £40 to £20 for the two tickets.

"That may not sound much, but £20 is two weeks' wages for our Romanian friends."

Mr Penrose subsequently returned to Devizes with his wife, Ann, and the couple noted that there are no signs in the bus bays where they were parked to say that pay-and-display tickets must be purchased.

Mr Penrose said: "I think the discount is very paltry and I feel, because we are a charity, they could have been more soft-hearted."

But Ron Crook, Kennet District Council's director of community services, said: "It would be unreasonable of us to apply the rules in a differential way.

"There are plenty of signs at the Wharf saying it is a pay-and-display car park.

"I understand the circumstances. They were in a hurry and they missed the signs but the rules are there to be obeyed. I think we have been very generous in allowing the 50 per cent discount."

The choir from the orphanage at Otelu Rosu, in southern Romania, includes children aged from 12 to 18.

It had earlier sung in South Wales, Swindon and Harrow to great acclaim from audiences.