PRIVATE car park owners have been urged to clamp down on able-bodied drivers using disabled parking bays.

Earlier this week, Darlington Association on Disability called on drivers not to misuse the disabled badge system and warned that those who exploited the rules of the permits could be fined or have their cars towed away.

But other disabled groups have said the problem caused by non-badge holders parking in disabled spaces is far worse than badge holders misusing the system.

Michael Dalton, from Sedgefield Borough Access Group, said: "As there are more non-badge holders than badge holders, the misuse of reserved spaces by non-badge holders is greater than the misuse of the badges."

He has published a report into the use of disabled spaces by able-bodied drivers and is calling for a change in the law to punish those who abuse the system.

He said: "Unlike the misuse of badges, which is covered by legislation, misuse of spaces by non-badge holders is not."

The law states that private car parks must enforce their own penalties on able-bodied drivers parking in disabled bays. Until it is declared illegal, Mr Dalton has called on car parks to enforce action against offenders.