DRIVERS who misuse disabled parking badges face fines of up to £1,000 in a campaign being launched next Monday in Darlington.

The badge scheme allows disabled drivers access to reserved parking places in Darlington town centre, but Darlington Association on Disability (DAD) has said the system is being abused.

DAD is being joined in the campaign by Darlington Borough Council and Durham police.

Under the initiative, people may be asked to verify their entitlement to a badge.

The campaign, which will run until December 22, will begin with an attempt to educate people about the problems disabled people suffer because of able drivers using their parking spaces.

There will also be a warning period, where those misusing the system will not face a penalty but will be told to give up their badges.

However, by the end of the December anyone found misusing a badge will risk having it withdrawn or being fined up to £1,000.

Gordon Pybus, vice-chairman of DAD said: "We ran a similar campaign last year which was very successful.

"Here at DAD we get a lot of complaints from disabled drivers and drivers with disabled passengers, about non-disabled drivers misusing badges.

"Badge misuse, including disabled people allowing others to use their badges, causes parking problems for disabled drivers.

"The campaign is about educating people who may not be aware of these problems and taking enforcement action as a last resort".

During the campaign, police, traffic wardens and council car park wardens will be asking to see identification from people using disabled driver badges.

Mr Pybus said: "We would ask people to please co-operate with the officers carrying out the checks. We want this to work for the benefit of those who really are in need of the convenient parking places for the disabled."