A couple were horrified when bailiffs came to their door to take away their car for a ticket issued seven months ago but knew nothing about.

Michelle Holton and Glenn Adam couldn’t believe what was happening when a large man rang the doorbell and demanded £500 for a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) issued by Islington Council in March.

Ms Holton, 39, was driving the couple’s VW Passat in Highbury when she went the wrong way through a width restriction in Riversdale Road.

She thought nothing of it at the time, because she didn’t get a ticket, and only remembered the incident when the bill collectors turned up.

She said: “That was the first I heard about it.

“They found my house, so someone must have had a record of it, but I got no tickets, no notice to owner, no court summons,

“I have had bills to this address before and I always pay them. No-one in their right mind would let a £60 fine turn into a £500 one.

“It was horrible. They turned up with a lorry saying they were picking up our possessions. We didn’t open the door and in the end he went away. Now we are scared to open the door to anyone.

“It’s absolutely disgusting. I cannot believe this council is allowed to treat people so badly and send the bailiffs round a month before Christmas, trying to take their stuff. It can’t just be me that’s gone through this. It’s disgraceful.”

After being contacted by the Gazette, Islington Council claimed letters were sent to Ms Holton, but may have been lost, and it is willing to negotiate.

Cllr Andy Hull, Islington Council’s executive member for finance and performance, said: “We sent out three letters to this address about this ticket, in April, May and July. It’s not clear what happened to these letters, which were all sent to the correct address.

“In the circumstances, we will suspend enforcement and give this driver the chance to appeal against it, and provide details of how to do so.”