A patient was left with his blood "boiling" after being mistakenly penalised for not paying to park at a hospital - because the ticket machine was broken.

Steven Washington recently attended Norwich Community Hospital in Bowthorpe Road for a routine blood test and had attempted to pay to park during his stay.

After finding the pay machine out of order, he was assured by the hospital's reception that if he registered his details at the front desk he would not be penalised.

Eastern Daily Press: Steve and Carol WashingtonSteve and Carol Washington (Image: Steve Washington)

However, days later he received a letter from private parking firm Parking Eye demanding he pay a £70 penalty notice. 

Mr Washington, a retired engineer who lives in Hellesdon, attempted to appeal the charge but was told he could have still paid through an app.

The 68-year-old said: "It made my blood boil when I opened the letter. I do not have a smartphone and I am not interested in using apps, but I did everything I could to pay.

"Being a community hospital, I imagine lots of older people also use the car park and will likely feel the same way.

However, after being contacted by this newspaper, hospital bosses got in touch with Mr Washington to inform him the charge would be cancelled.

But a spokesman for the Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust defended the use of private parking enforcement for the car park.

They said: "The car park at the hospital can be busy at peak times. Use of an automatic number plate recognition system helps reduce the number of unauthorised vehicles parking at the site and ensures spaces are available for patients and visitors.

"On this occasion, a parking charge has been issued in error due to a fault with the payment machine - which have now been repaired.

"We are in contact with Mr Washington to arrange cancellation of the charge."