A DRIVER claims he has been given his third parking fine in Bolton despite displaying his disabled badge each time.

Last Friday, Shaun Greenhalgh parked in the Cheadle Square car park in the town centre and says he was given a ticket because he did not have a pay and display ticket on show.

But Mr Greenhalgh, aged 50, claims his disabled driver's badge was clearly on display and that it was the third time this had happened to him.

He says both his previous fines were revoked after he complained.

"It's getting beyond a joke and has put me off coming to Bolton." said Mr Greenahlgh, of Leigh Road, Leigh, who had been shopping with his wife.

"You don't get these kinds of problems in other towns. It must be bad for business."

As well as his car, Mr Greenhalgh has to use a scooter to get about because of his chronic arthritis. He also suffers from asthma, high blood pressure and diabetes.

"I have got a disabled parking badge but they don't seem to look at it," he said.

Ian Taylor, head of parking services at Bolton Council, said he could only find two cases where Mr Greenhalgh had been fined, including the latest one.

In 2001, he was given a ticket for not displaying his parking badge correctly. That fine was revoked.

Mr Taylor said Friday's ticket was issued because wardens could not read the expiry date on his disabled badge.

"We have to check the badge. It's standard procedure," said Mr Taylor.

Mr Greenhalgh's appeal would be investigated, he added.