A CRACKDOWN on blue badge abuse has taken place in Worcester city centre - with vehicle operators warned to remain the right side of the law.

Worcester City Council just completed a week-long operation to tackle criminal motorists wrongly making the most of the disabled badges.

The work, which was finished on Sunday, saw six people caught out disobeying the law after parking wardens checked eight major city centre streets.

The wardens, who went to St Swithin’s Street, Queen Street, Trinity Street, The Cross, The Trinity, The Cornmarket, New Street and Charles Street, claim there are now 10,000 blue badges in use around Worcestershire by itself.

Yesterday your Worcester News revealed how a fleeing driver rammed straight into the front of Bushwhackers night club on Sun as he tried to escape a warden carrying out a spot check for disabled badges.

A man, aged 19, was detained on suspicion of aggravated vehicle taking and property damage, and was bailed until September 18.

Supervisors at the council say the crackdown was absolutely supported by observers and have not eliminated a repeat - with felons facing a maximum fine of up to £1,000.

Several crooks were found to be using other's badges, while another couple of automobiles showed ones which had gone out of date.

The badges provide motorists entry to the very best areas to park across the city centre.

Auto parking boss Andy Chinn stated: "The targeted week-long focus on the use of blue badges has been very successful. "We have received overwhelming backing from the public and in only 1 week a total of 6 badges were confiscated that were not being used legally.

"Blue Badge misuse is still a top priority for the council and we continue to be devoted to making certain that true badge users may park in the bays located in the middle of our city."

He added that the four drivers arrested for other's badges weren't making the most of deceased people - but it does happen in other cases.

Brian Hunt, vice-chairman of the Worcestershire Pensioners Action Group, uses a blue badge himself.

He says: "You do get clear incorrect use of these badges - what individuals neglect is that the badge is not for a car, it's for an individual.

"You find people that lend their mum's vehicle to go into the city, use it to park in one of the spaces and then go and do a bit of shopping - that is against the law.

"All the badge should include is a handicapped individual. Many individuals also use the disabled parking bays when they shouldn't, particularly in supermarkets.

"I think the council is on the case."

All around The United Kingdom, there are more than 3 million blue badges in use.