Last day of the holidays, so I persuaded three teacher friends to try the delights of Malvern, a friendly little town, well worth a visit. I know, I am biased, being born and bred in Barnards Green.

We dutifully parked the car below Priory Park and paid for three hours. Although it was cold and windy, we really did have a lovely morning. We had coffee and cakes in the Winter Gardens restaurant, picked up programmes for forthcoming plays, wandered around the shops, spending far more than we should on clothes and other items, including a painting of the Malverns.

We had a lovely lunch, during which my friends assured me they would definitely come back for future visits. Basking in this praise we returned to the car, you can guess, a £20 fine for being 10 minutes late.

The car park was 90 per cent empty and was there any sign of the warden, oh no he had scarpered!

On ringing Malvern Hills District Council and trying to explain that in gaining £20 the goodwill they had lost for the traders of Malvern was of far higher value, their only response was it was policy. When I suggested the policy needed changing, I was told in no uncertain terms you could now get a fine for being one minute over.

What a wonderful council you have Malvern traders, how forward thinking, they really are supporting your cause.

Jennie Hughes (nee Jenkins), Honeylake Cottage, Ivington.