A student has been fined £100 for stopping for 15 seconds at a zebra crossing to drop off his girlfriend - while pedestrians were using the crossing.

Eastern Daily Press: Callum Stocker's car stopped at a zebra crossing on James Watson Road. Picture; Linda StockerCallum Stocker's car stopped at a zebra crossing on James Watson Road. Picture; Linda Stocker (Image: Linda Stocker)

Callum Stocker, a 21-year-old environmental sciences student at the University of East Anglia, was on his way to drop off his girlfriend Abbie at an exam when a group of pedestrians crossed the road in front of him at a zebra crossing.

Unable to drive on, he told his partner she may as well make use of the compulsory stoppage and get out of the car, as they were close to their destination.

However, a few days later his mother, Linda, received a letter at his home in Wellingborough, Northampton, from National Parking Enforcement Ltd ordering him to pay a £100 charge for parking in a no-stopping zone.

The incident happened on January 17, on James Watson Road near the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital - the same road where another driver, Steven Savage, was penalised for stopping to recover from a sneezing fit.

Mr Stocker said: "My girlfriend is a pharmacy student and was on her way to an exam at the hospital. When I had to stop for the people to cross I told her she may as well hop out - so she did.

"I then drove off and thought nothing of it. It is just crazy: What was I supposed to do - run the people over? It must happen to so many people if everybody who stops at the zebra crossing is charged. There really are no words."

National Parking Enforcement Ltd, however, disputes that Mr Stocker stopped to allow pedestrians to cross - as he stopped eight seconds before they stepped out.

A spokesman said: "The driver stopped directly in front of a pedestrian crossing at 08:30.26 seconds, the crossing was empty when he chose to do this.

"At 08.30.34 seconds pedestrians entered the crossing at the same time his passenger exited the vehicle."

They said the driver passed an "initial warning sign and two no stopping signs before deciding to stop, on double yellow lines" while obstructing a pedestrian crossing.

Mr Stocker, however, said he had seen the pedestrians approach the crossing so slowed in case they stepped out into the road.

He said: "I know I'm young but I have been driving long enough to know that you have to stop at a zebra crossing and be aware when you see people close to the road in case they step out."