NEARLY half of driver challenges about parking fines in Winchester were accepted, according to figures.

Winchester City Council was one of 98 authorities across the country who responded to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request about initial driver challenges.

The figures, obtained by the Press Association who that of 1210 challenges made by drivers in Winchester district, that 585 were accepted, meaning the council accepted 48.35 per cent of challenges.

The likelihood of getting off a parking fine depends on which area of the country drivers get a ticket, with some councils approving as few as one in 10 challenges while others accept nearly every appeal.

On average just over a third (38%) of initial driver challenges to on-street parking fines made to local authorities in England between January and October 2016 were successful.

But there was huge variation between councils, with Runnymede, Surrey, accepting just 9% of appeals while Basingstoke and Deane, Hampshire - just 30 miles away - approved 95%.

Guy Anker, managing editor at MoneySavingExpert.com, said: "If the councils accepting the fewest challenges are wrongly rejecting claims it's an absolute disgrace."

We hear so many stories from motorists who are victims of overzealous parking wardens.

"Often the real problem is really poor, terrible signing. People are often completely bamboozled, can I park here or can I not?"

Mr Anker said that after having a challenge rejected by the council, around 50% of drivers who make a further appeal to the independent Traffic Penalty Tribunal are successful.

He added: "I would encourage everyone who feels they are being harshly treated by their council to make an appeal to the independent arbitrator."

A spokeswoman for Runnymede Council said: "The statistics provided relate to street matters only which often refer to yellow lines and dropped kerbs.

"This therefore means there aren't very often cases which are open to much ambiguity. We use our own staff to carry out enforcement, who are experienced and well trained in the role and therefore only issue notices where necessary."