CONGRATULATIONS to Bolton's traffic wardens, who are at last doing something about the misuse of orange disabled parking badges.

Ray Coe of Blackburn is the latest to complain (BEN: November 22). A disabled badge is issued to people who cannot walk more than 100 yards without difficulty, so why is he parking in Nelson Square to go shopping? I would have thought that it would be more convenient to park among the shops in Crompton Place, Central Street or the Market Place, but, of course, he would have to pay to park there like other poor motorists.

Furthermore, why is it always people with hidden heart problems who are always complaining, and who have declared on their badge application form that they cannot walk more than 100 yards without difficulty -- and yet do not seem to have any problems wandering around the shops? Such people do a great disservice to genuine disabled people who follow the rules and park within the law.

Perhaps something can now be done about the able bodied friends and relatives of disabled people who use an orange badge without the disabled person being in the car.

This is the responsibility of the disabled person who allows this to happen. If they are not the driver, they should keep the badge under their control at all times.

Law abiding motorist

(name address supplied)