AN elderly disabled man received a parking ticket while visiting his doctor just hours after his blue badge expired because he was late receiving a replacement.

Arthur Cooper said the only reason he got the ticket in the first place was because his replacement blue badge arrived four days late, forcing him to display the old one instead.

The 88-year-old of Comer Road, St John's, Worcester who feels 'aggrieved' about what happened has produced his new blue badge which shows it would have covered him if he had received it on the day the penalty charge notice was issued.

He has since paid the fine after two unsuccessful appeals to Worcester City Council.

The ticket was issued at the pay and display car park at in the city’s Providence Street at 11.54 am on Monday, June 27, just short of 12 hours after his blue badge expired.

At the time Mr Cooper was attending a doctor’s appointment at the Spring Gardens Group Medical Practice to have a check-up regarding heart problems.

Mr Cooper applied to renew his blue badge a month in advance of its expiry on Sunday, June 26 but had not received his replacement on the day of the doctor's appointment (he says the renewal application was received on June 2).

Mr Cooper, who has heart problems, diabetes and breathing difficulties, told the Worcester News he could barely walk 20 yards without getting out of breath.

He said: “I have made two unsuccessful appeals and have paid the £25 fine under protest. You get a week's grace when it comes to most renewals. I'm a little dumbfounded.

"I was only at the doctor's surgery for 20 minutes. I had no option (but to display the out of date blue badge). I had nothing else to exhibit.

"When the blue badge arrived four days late it covered the date of the parking offence."

Mr Cooper described Worcester's parking attendants as 'over-officious' and said they ought to use more 'discretion' when issuing tickets, particularly with regard to people's individual circumstances.

A spokesman for Worcester City Council said: "It is the driver's responsibility to ensure they display an up-to-date blue badge."

A valid blue badge allows you to park at a pay and display car park free for the first three hours. If they wish to stay longer than three hours, or they do not have a valid blue badge, they have to buy a pay and display ticket.

A letter to Mr Cooper from Worcester City Council about his appeal reads: "I must remind you that it is your responsibility to ensure that your badge is current and correct prior to leaving your vehicle.

"Once expired it does not permit parking and should not be used.

"In view of this, I can find no grounds for cancellation of this Penalty Charge Notice, thank you for your payment."