I HAVE read several letters about Orange and Blue badge users, and most of them appear to be from very jealous people who are fortunate enough not to suffer from a disability themselves or know somebody close to them who is unfortunate enough to need an Orange or Blue badge.

These badges are not just awarded for people with bad hearts who can't walk more than 100 yards, but for a variety of disabilities.

My father has terminal cancer and my mother is virtually crippled with her disabilities, but that does not mean they wish to remain housebound.

When they do go out, however, they rely on other people to drive them voluntarily and wheel them around to their destination. They use their Orange badge for a convenient spot to park, not for free parking.

They would much rather pay for a car park that was set aside, just for badge users, in a central location in the Bolton town centre, than travel from car park to car park around Bolton to find that the 1pc of the total parking spaces in Bolton car parks set aside for badge users has already been taken.

They have received two parking tickets this month -- both for parking in spaces that have, in the past, been acceptable places to park but, for reasons unknown, Bolton Metro has changed its policy.

I am quite sure they would rather give up their Orange badge and have their health back.

I also hope 'A Harris' never finds that they are in the same position as my parents and need to apply for an Orange or Blue badge, and I hope that, if they are, they remember how insulting they have been to people less fortunate than themselves

(name and

address supplied)