Bailiffs tried to take away a woman’s car after she refused to pay a wrongly issued fine for making a journey over the Dartford Crossing.

Donna Hill was threatened with losing her vehicle on March 9, more than a year after she was initially penalised for apparently using the tunnel between Kent and Essex without paying.

It turned out she had paid the fee after the journey on December 21, 2015, but that it had not registered correctly on the Dart Charge system because she had entered a zero instead of the letter O when typing out her vehicle registration number.

She started receiving letters demanding payment and the resulting stand-off lasted some 17 months, during which time the fine rocketed to £425.

“This whole situation really stressed me out and nobody was listening to me throughout that whole time,” said the 40-year-old, of Elm Road, Dartford.

“I am on medication for mental health issues and this has added to everything else I have going on.

“My son also has mental health problems and got so angry and nervous when the bailiffs turned up because he thought we were going to lose the car.

“In April I got a letter from them saying they have dumped the charges but it caused me undue stress.

"I don’t use the crossing anymore because I am worried that the same thing might happen again.”

"I don't use the crossing anymore because I am worried that the same thing might happen again" - Donna Hill

Mrs Hill said she knew she had made a mistake when she made the payment, but did not understand why she was “hounded” for the fine for so long.

She claims the money paid for the journey had successfully left her account and was listed on her bank statement.

Highways England insists that the Dart Charge website reminds drivers to be careful not to confuse letters with similar looking numbers, and shows them the make, model and colour of the vehicle registration they have entered before proceeding to payment.

“We aim to take a fair approach to enforcing payment of Dart Charge, and to help drivers who have entered their vehicle’s registration incorrectly avoid a penalty,” said a spokesman.

“There is clear and straightforward advice on how to challenge a penalty charge, and this case could have been resolved much sooner had this advice been followed.

“As there is clear evidence that the driver tried in good faith to pay their Dart Charge we are pleased to be able to cancel the penalty on this occasion.”