A 75-year-old man feels like he has been taken to the cleaners by the council after a car wash catastrophe car cost him £55.

Grant Pyke, fell foul of a CCTV car while cleaning his car outside his house on Green Lane, Worcester Park.

Mr Pyke had parked his car on his street with two wheels on the road, and two on the grass verge on his street to allow traffic to flow past.

Mr Pyke, who is a big fan of two wheels as a keen cyclist for Kingston Phoenix cycling club, said: "I was trying to make sure people could drive past, I was being considerate because I know how busy this road gets, it's very narrow."

But as Mr Pyke was applying the suds, the sudding CCTV car trawled past.

"I didn't think anything of it at the time, then I got the letter through the post.  I realised when I saw the picture, which actually shows me with the bucket and cloth cleaning the car, it was taken by the CCTV car."

"I just thought, great, that was an expensive car wash."

Mr Pyke appealed the ticket as soon as he received it, but found out on Friday (August 3) his appeal was unsuccessful.

The former architectural assistant and current Sainsbury's employee said he couldn't believe it.

"I thought they would see sense after seeing the appeal, I mean, I was right outside my house."

A Sutton Council spokesman said: "This penalty charge was issued because the car was parked on the grass verge at the side of the road. This can damage verges and spoil the appearance of our streets.

"This, in turn, can then cause a potential inconvenience to residents and a cost to the council should we have to rectify any damage."