An outraged florist said strict parking laws are threatening small businesses after she lost an appeal against a parking ticket when funeral flowers were being delivered.

Mari Lawrence, who owns Seasons in Coombe Lane, said driver Ray Coburn was delivering a five foot floral bouquet for a funeral when his delivery van got smacked with a ticket by Merton Council in Raynes Park.

Mr Coburn was delivering the flowers from the florist for a funeral organised by Frederick W Paine Funeral Directors further down the same road.

The council said nobody enjoyed getting parking tickets but that road gets very busy in peak times.

Loading and unloading is allowed between 10am and 4pm every day.

Mr Coburn was caught at 4.26pm by enforcement officers, who she says were ‘waiting to pounce.’

Mrs Lawrence said: "We go the extra mile for people and this is an expense we don't need.

"It was just after 4pm and Ray was two minutes.

"They are sat in the car waiting to pounce."

Mrs Lawrence said the £110 cost of the ticket eats into any profit made on the £120 cost of the flowers which were stunning autumnal colours.

Driver Mr Coburn who has worked there for 10 years said: "We were really rushed.

"It was a split second and I was only there for five minutes.

"It's fair enough but we're trying to run a business."

They said the strict parking restrictions make it difficult for them to make deliveries not just in Raynes Park but all over London.

The incident happened on Wednesday, October 1 and the business appealed but had it rejected by the council two weeks later.

Pleas to MP Stephen Hammond and council leader Stephen Alambritis failed to get the ticket overturned and Mrs Lawrence was forced to pay the £55 fee.

Because she paid the fine one day late, an extra £55 was added to the total.  

Cabinet member for environmental cleanliness and parking, Councillor Judy Saunders said: "Nobody likes to get a PCN but it is the council’s responsibility to enforce parking restrictions in a firm but fair way to cut down on congestion, one of our residents’ top concerns.

"This particular location gets very busy during peak times of the day and the restrictions in place keep the flow of traffic moving.

"We have considered how this might impact local businesses which is why between 10am and 4pm loading and unloading is allowed."