I RECENTLY took my 90-year-old mother-in-law to shop at Bolton's fruit and fish market on a Saturday.

Before parking on the car park in front of the entrance I read the notice displayed in respect of disabled parking twice, to ensure that I could use her disabled badge. I parked in a designated disabled space, displayed the badge and set the clock to the correct time.

When we returned to the vehicle, I was dismayed to find a parking ticket. I assumed that, as the badge is a newly-issued blue badge, issued in Poole where my mother-in-law lives, there was a mistake.

After reading instructions on the ticket, I drove to the town tall as it said payments could be made there. I had to park on a car park and pay, as I was afraid to use the badge, thus having to leave my 90-year-old mother-in-law (very upset) alone in the car.

At the town hall I was told the office was closed on Saturdays and I was given directions to Minerva House.

As my mother-in-law was returning home the day after, I needed to sort the matter out and show the badge.

The lady at the reception said that (i) perhaps I'd parked in a non-disabled spot, or (ii) not displayed a badge, or (iii) displayed it the wrong way round.

I assured her I had parked correctly and displayed the badge, which I showed her. As to which way round the badge was displayed, I couldn't say, because my mother-in-law put it in the window, and neither of us realised there was a "right" way round.

This was the first time I had seen the blue one as it was only issued in March. If it was displayed not showing the valid date I would have thought the traffic warden would know it couldn't have expired, as these blue cards are a new issue.

I shop regularly in Bolton and spent more than £50 in the market. But it will be a long time, if at all, before I venture into town again.This spoilt an otherwise happy week. My mother-in-law was visiting us to celebrate her 90th birthday and she returned home worrying about my having to pay a £60 fine.

I have lodged an appeal, but what could I have done had the office been closed? How could I have shown that there was a valid badge when I wouldn't have been in possession of it the day after?

Mrs K Maxwell

The Green

Eccleston, Chorley