A popular family pub has been forced to apologise after many customers were left with a £100 fine due to a parking camera mishap.

Visitors to the Bobbing Apple in Sheppey Way, near Sittingbourne, were left with a bigger bill than expected after the car park's registration detection system was suddenly activated.

It began to dish out fines for people who visited the site near Bobbing Corner, as well as the Premier Inn next door.

Multiple disgruntled pubgoers explained they were told by staff they didn't need to do anything as the cameras were turned off. Otherwise a car's registration would be noted down to authorise the free parking.

But since last week many customers have rung the pub to complain about being handed a £100 fine, which has led to an apology from the Bobbing Apple.

The site, which is owned by Brewers Fayre, posted an announcement saying: "We apologise to any of our customers that have received parking fines from our car park.

"Our parking control supplier had activated the cameras without our knowledge.

"We have been able to get hold of the parking company who have apologised and assured us that all pending fines will be cancelled with immediate effect.

"We are so sorry for any worries and inconveniences this may have caused."

One woman detailed how she visited the restaurant on last Tuesday for a celebration breakfast but was left with the heavy fine.

She said: "We were only in there for about an hour and 15 minutes. Then this week we had a £100 fine come through our door.

"We weren't in a disabled space or anything, just a normal regular parking space. We didn't see any sign saying you have a time limit."

Another said: "We were at the Bobbing Apple for lunch on Monday, August 9, and received a ticket days later.

"When we went in we asked at the bar about how we register our car reg number and the lady behind the the bar said we didn't have to.

"I phoned the pub today and the man I spoke to said he had got a ticket as well and he had had loads of customers phone up complaining.

"Apparently the cameras have not worked for a year so no-one was required to check their car in but the cameras are now live again.''

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