AN investigation has been launched into claims that Redbridge Council unlawfully issued parking tickets on a Woodford Green road.

The development comes after war veteran Harry Royds, 87, was slapped with a £100 fine last May when he failed to notice new residents-only restrictions on High Elms.

Furious neighbours and parking campaigners contacted the Guardian claiming the ticket was invalid, because not enough signs had been installed to warn motorists of the changes - as required by law.

And now the Government’s independent parking appeals board has taken up the case, with a verdict expected in the next few months.

If they rule in Mr Royds’s favour, it could mean that "hundreds" of other motorists fined on the street could get refunds.

The pensioner, who had been parking on the stretch of road for 12 years before the new restrictions were introduced, said: "The new council signs were so small I didn’t even notice them. If there were more signs I would have realised things had changed.

"The restrictions are unnecessary because it’s supposed to be for residents’ parking but that bit of the road is surrounded only by the forest, so the only residents are squirrels and birds.

"It’s caused other problems because now everyone’s parking around Sunset Avenue and it’s only caused more congestion and annoyance."

Neighbour Matthew Hill said the council did originally put signs alerting drivers on both sides of the road, but then removed some of them because they were installed on Epping Forest land without consent.

He added: "Redbridge has not complied with the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2002 at many locations within this controlled parking zone and many road markings are either incomplete or incorrect.

"This scheme has been poorly conceived and has been introduced with a disregard for regulations that are in place to protect motorists like Mr Royds from being issued with unjust and illegal penalty notices.

"If road markings or signage are found to be incorrect, then not only should refunds be given to motorists that have received penalty notices, but someone within Redbridge Council should be held accountable."

Redbridge Council said they would not comment on any issues regarding parking on the street because Mr Royds’s appeal is still on-going.