CHANGES are to be introduced to the way people are assessed for disability parking badges in part of the county.

Previously, disabled people in the Easingwold and York area were given a mobility assessment by their GP. Assessments will be carried out independently from August 26.

Primary care trust head of policy Sam Haward said: "The trust wants to make the process of assessing someone for a blue badge as straight forward as possible.

"We hope this new system will make it simpler and quicker for people to have their assessment and then, if they qualify, their blue badge."

A spokesman for the York Disability Information and Advice Centre said that if the system was simpler it would benefit more people.