Dick Lloyd, of Sherford, near Kingsbridge, writes:

On Saturday, January 28, my wife and I took two elderly ladies to a matinee at the Theatre Royal in Plymouth. The ladies, who otherwise would not have been able to go, thoroughly enjoyed the outing.

As we drove back in the dark, one of them suddenly said that she was afraid that her seat belt had become unfastened.

I stopped immediately to check, as soon as I could get out of the main stream of traffic.

I had inadvertently stopped in a bus lane, which was prohibited, was caught on camera and fined £35.

I had stopped for less than a minute, and I wrote to Plymouth City Council explaining the cicrumstances, and emphasising my legal duty of concern for safety of my passengers as being my first priority.

I had 21 days to pay, or risk the fine being doubled, and I received a stern reminder, completely ignoring my letter, so I was obliged to send it again. I have now finally been informed that my appeal has been rejected.

I accept that they have a legal right to fine me, and I shall pay, but do people not think that, under the circumstances, they could have stretched a point?