PARKING protesters have accused council bosses of double standards after they forgot to replace the tax disc on the mayor's limousine.

The tax disc on the black BMW expired on January 31 and was not replaced for 12 days until the Lancashire Telegraph informed Blackburn with Darwen Council that it had expired.

The car which has a registration CB1, used on official visits by the Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen, Coun Maureen McGarvey, was driven on at least 11 occasions without displaying the correct disc.

The last event is thought to have been on Monday at a launch of Circle of Friends Healthier Lifes-tyles Event at Accrington Road Community Centre, Accrington Road, Blackburn.

Coun Colin Rigby, leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, said that the tax disc is updated in advance but the new disc had not been put on display in the car.

But national parking protester Neil Herron, who runs the 'People's No' campaign said the council should bear this in mind when tickets are issued on cars that have forgotten to display valid tickets or if tickets have blown off.

He said: "I hope that some level of consideration is given by parking wardens to people who have forgotten to display their blue disc, or have forgotten to display a valid ticket or whose ticket has fallen off.

"In light of the mayor's case they should take a sympathetic view but they won't."

It is a motoring offence incurring a fixed penalty fine to drive a vehicle on the road without a displaying valid tax disc but if the tax disc has been purchased it is a minor offence and the owner would be unlikely to receive any penalty.

Coun Rigby said: "Unfortunately the disc had not been placed in the car. This has now been rectified."

Frank Law, 64, of Roman Road, Blackburn, said: "This is typical of the council.

"It would be different if it was anybody else.

"They should be made an example of because they should be setting an example to everyone else."