DISABILITY campaigners have hit out at council bosses after a motorist was given a ticket despite display-ing his blue badge.

Frank Jensen, 84, was one of the first motorists to be fined under a new parking crackdown at Towneley Hall, Burnley.

Mr Jensen, of Knowsley Road West, Wilpshire, could not leave his car in a designated bay as the car park was full. He left his car on the road next to the car park at 2pm on Tuesday and displayed his blue disabled badge.

He said he was not causing an obstruction, but when he returned to the vehicle, he found a warden had left a £30 fine on the windscreen.

Council bosses drafted in wardens to Towneley Park for the first time from Monday ahead of the introduction of car parking charges in June.

The wardens were instructed to book any vehicles that were not left inside a parking bay.

But campaigning group the Disability Rights Commission criticised the council's treatment of Mr Jensen.

A spokesman said: "Legally the council can adopt whatever policy it wants so the blue badges have no authority, because it is private land.

"But we feel that it is very harsh way to deal with people with disabilities, especially when they have made sure their vehicle is not obstructing other vehicles."

Mr Jensen, who visited Towneley with a friend, said he was told by a warden that if the car park was full then he should not visit the hall.

He said: "We said it's not fair' to the warden.

"We travelled here to spend the day and there's no parking spaces. We went into the hall had a nice afternoon and then got a shock when we came out.

"I am very unhappy with what happened.

"We got a £30 fixed penalty notice, but it's not about the money but the principle.

"The wardens want to be more considerate about who they issue parking fines to.

"People are spending money. They should not be banishing them."

Simon Goff, Burnley Council's head of green spaces and amenities, said: "Visitors, including disabled drivers, are only permitted to park in designated car parking spaces and penalty charge notices have now been introduced to ensure drivers do not park elsewhere such as on entry roads, paths and verges.

"Activity like this has caused significant disruption to the movement of traffic in and out of the park. There are signs within the car park that identify that drivers must park in designated bays."