AN orange badge holder has blasted hospital bosses after he was landed with a parking ticket at Blackburn Royal Infirmary.

Mike Firth found an empty parking spot when all the disabled spaces were full.

But, when he returned from visiting the hospital, he found a ticket with a demand for £1.

Mike, of Darwen, said he had never had to pay to park at the hospital before.

The 49-year-old, who has an artificial leg, said he complained to a hospital manager who told him there had been a change in policy which meant disabled drivers now had to pay to park in non-disabled spaces. He said: "I was not bothered about the money. What I was violently against was the fact there were no signs saying there had been a change in the rules.

"I am not after something for nothing, but I am angry there was no notification of the change."

John Dell, operations director for the Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley NHS Trust, said there had been no change in parking policy.

He said: "The policy is still that, apart from the disabled spaces, people have to pay to park.

"If the person is on low income they can claim the parking fee back under the hospital travel scheme.

"There may have been a bit of confusion and Mr Firth is welcome to contact me."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.