A BOVEY Tracey couple who went for their covid jabs ended up being stung in an unexpected way.

The husband and wife, both in their 80s, had gone to the Riviera Centre in Torquay for their booster shots and parked in the Leisure Centre’s car park.

The man, who asked not to be named, said: ‘We were guided in to the car park by official looking marshals, who told us we had a 40-minute period of grace. They said that would be plenty of time and we thought the same.

‘Sadly we were held up for so long that by the time we came out over an hour had gone by.’

A couple of time-consuming patients before them in the waiting area caused the Bovey Tracey couple to get jittery as the clock was ticking, but they were reluctant to leave their place in the queue to pop out and get a ticket.

An hour later they emerged freshly jabbed, and as they felt guilty for overstaying their welcome they bought a ticket in good faith before driving off.

However, that gesture proved to be in vain as a demand for £60 from Birmingham-based Smart Parking soon landed on their doormat.

After appeals for leniency to Torbay Council fell on deaf ears, the panicked couple paid the charge, fearing an increase to £100 if it wasn’t paid within 14 days.

‘We just want people going to Torquay for their vaccine to be aware it might take far longer than they suggest. We’d hate for anyone else to be caught out like this.

‘If we hadn’t been told it might take only 40 minutes we’d have bought a ticket and still be £60 richer.’