I had to stop my car for 18 seconds in a red zone at Leeds Bradford airport to deal with a wasp. It was buzzing in front of my face and making safe-driving impossible.

The result was a £100 parking charge notice (PCN) sent to my wife (the registered keeper) by Vehicle Control Services (VCS).

I’ve explained the circumstances to VCS, whose CCTV footage shows I only stopped for seconds and never left the car, but it won’t listen.

AW, Hebden Bridge

Its hearing improved when I contacted the airport, which ordered VCS to refund the charge as “goodwill”. The airport tells me that if you had contacted it directly, it would have intervened. However, it is evidently worried that its actions in this case will open the floodgates to wasp-ridden drivers.

“Stopping in this area remains enforceable,” it says sternly.…