The spirit of goodwill was not catching as Queen of Shops Mary Portas opened the latest branch of her charity shop on Saturday.

Ham & High: Mary Portas gets a parking ticket while opening a new Living and Giving Shop in Maida Vale. Picture: Nigel SuttonMary Portas gets a parking ticket while opening a new Living and Giving Shop in Maida Vale. Picture: Nigel Sutton (Image: © Nigel Sutton email pictures@nigelsuttonphotography.com)

The shopping guru, who lives in Primrose Hill, was the star guest at the launch of Mary’s Living and Giving shop in Maida Vale.

The shops are run by local people for residents and raise cash for Save The Children.

But one good deed did not inspire another as Ms Portas apparently fell foul of a Westminster parking warden.

A council source told Heathman that she was parked illegally in a loading bay but the authority would take a “common-sense look at the circumstances”.

Perhaps Westminster would consider donating the parking fine to Save The Children?