A wheelchair-bound pensioner was reeling today after being handed a parking fine for accidentally displaying her disabled badge the wrong way in her windscreen.

Joyce Featherstone, 79, of Merton Road, Benfleet, got the ticket while she was shopping with her blind daughter Gwen, 38, in Basildon town centre.

Mrs Featherstone had parked in the Basildon Centre car park, next to the Westgate shopping centre.

She immediately appealed in writing against the £30 fine, but was told yesterday she would have to pay because her disability badge was displayed incorrectly.

Joyce said: "It's all so petty. These people go around photographing a pensioner's windscreen. Surely there are better ways they could use their time and resources."

However a council spokesperson disagreed and said Mrs Featherstone deserved the fine.

He said: "If a badge is not displayed properly then that person will be liable for a parking ticket."

Published Thursday August 26, 2004

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