A MAN and woman are counting the cost of using a blue badge to park illegally in Durham.

Durham County Council officers saw a vehicle with a blue badge parked at Framwellgate Waterside just after 8am on August 15.

When Julia Wilson of Meadow Green, Spennymoor, returned to the car at about 5.15pm that day officers spoke to her and she said the badge was her husband's, who had been swimming while she shopped.

She first claimed it had only been parked in the bay for two hours, then that she had moved it and later admitted she had actually been at work all day at the Passport Office. CCTV at Freeman’s Quay showed Stanley had not visited the pool when he said.

Wilson, 60, who is separated from her husband, pleaded guilty by post. She was fined £83 and ordered to pay £293.20 in costs and a £30 victim surcharge. Stanley, 63, of Grape Lane, Durham, pleaded guilty to two offences at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates Court and was fined £100 and ordered to pay £270 in costs and a £30 victim surcharge.