A MUM has been left furious after being slammed with a £100 fine at a notorious East Midlands airport car park.

Terri Akers, 51, was filling up her car when she dropped off her friend at the petrol station - stunned as she later received the fine.

And she is now hoping to start a campaign against the "illegitimate" fines issued after realising she was just one in a string of people to flag concerns they were being ripped off at the petrol station next to East Midlands Airport.

Speaking to Derby Telegraph, the mum-of-one said: "As I approached the airport, I needed to get petrol, but was fully intending to go to the £3 parking bay.

"My friend then noticed the garage and suggested that I fill the car up there. It seemed like a sensible thing to do, then my friend realised he could quickly jump out while I was filling up.

"My sole intention was not to defraud the authorities out of their £3 parking charge. What sane person would insist that their friend stay rooted to their seat waiting for the fuel to be paid when the airport is just a short walk away?"

The technical writer then blasted the "poorly conceived" fines.

Ryan Smith, 33, was one in a series of people to claim being ripped off in August last year - with a couple stung in September.

Another mum was fined at the station in what she slammed as "daylight robbery".

While the petrol station has put signs on display in and around the area, Mrs Akers claims she did not see the sign.

Authorities have since upheld her complaint and waived the fine.

But Mrs Akers does not want to give up just yet, saying there were many other people who could fall victim to the fines.

A representative for Vehicle Control Services Limited said: "In light of Mrs Akers' appeal and the evidence supplied we have accepted her appeal; we will formally confirm our decision to Mrs Akers."

Passengers who travel to East Midlands Airport must currently pay £3 for 10 minutes to collect or drop off passengers outside the terminals, which goes up by £1 every minute after this.

It costs £4 to stay for 30 minutes in the Short Stay car park and there is free parking up to one hour in the Long Stay car parks.

East Midlands Airport said using the station as a place to pick up or drop people off was strongly prohibited, with signs up since June.

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A spokesman said: “All drivers dropping off and collecting passengers at EMA should use the designated car parks and drop-off facilities.

"One hour’s free parking can be had in Long Stay 2, which is ideal for drivers who have to wait longer for their passengers, ten minutes parking in rapid drop off costs £3, while 30 minutes in short stay 1 car park is £4."

A number of airports around the UK have free 10-minute drop off points.

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