DRIVERS who misuse disabled parking badges have been warned a campaign to catch them will continue throughout the year.

During December, police, council officers and traffic wardens have been targeting people in Darlington who wrongly use disabled-only parking spaces or display a disabled parking permit badge to which they are not entitled.

The badge allows a disabled person to park in certain restricted areas, close to shops and amenities.

The December campaign began with an education initiative to try to get people to realise how important it is to keep disabled access parking spaces for those who need them.

Leaflets were distributed throughout the town warning people of the consequences of misusing orange badges, including a fine of up to £1,000 and having the badge confiscated..

Some people were asked to verify they were entitled to their badge and those found to have borrowed one from a friend or relative risked having it confiscated.

But despite extra patrols, no one has been caught breaking the rules this month.

Traffic warden John Angus said: "It seems as though the education campaign has worked and people have decided not to abuse the system.

"These badges are not a God-given right, they are discretionary and can be taken away.

"If someone borrows a friend's or relative's badge and the badge is confiscated it is the poor person at home who will suffer.

"A similar campaign last year was a great success but there are still people willing to break the rules."

Those people who decided to only keep to the rules during the campaign have been warned that the special patrols will continue all year.

He said: "We are always on the look out for people breaking the rules and if we catch people they will be dealt with. This is an on-going policy for us."

The campaign, run by Darlington Borough Council and the Darlington Association on Disability (DAD) was launched after disabled people in the town complained that they often could not get into their convenient parking spaces because they were being used by able-bodied people.