SELFISH, ignorant and abusive townsfolk are hogging disabled car parking spaces and making life a misery for the physically handicapped in Kidderminster, it has been claimed.

Not only are the parking hogs misusing a vital amenity but disabled folk have been subjected to vitriolic abuse for pointing out their selfishness.

Campaigner Eileen Foxall spoke out after a disabled woman, new to the town, expressed horror at her treatment by self-centred drivers.

Mrs Foxall said the problem had been prevalent in Kidderminster for many years.

She said: "I have had numerous reports of verbal abuse to disabled people.

"There seems to be a massive amount of ignorance towards disabled people in the town and sadly the abuse and hostility this woman has received is not uncommon."

The 61-year-old disabled woman, who has lived in town for less than a year, has been shocked at her treatment - encapsulated by a young mother calling her a "stupid old bag" when told she had parked illegally in a disabled space.

The woman, who uses a wheelchair because of chronic back trouble, said: "I have never had such reactions as those I have had in Kidderminster.

"Not only do people abuse the system by parking in disabled spaces they issue a torrent of abuse if it is pointed out to them.

"Having to park only a few more yards away can be the difference between a disabled person being able to get to the shops or not."

The woman, who does not want to be named, and Mrs Foxall also stressed how important a shopmobility scheme in the town would be.

The service, which operates in places such as Worcester and Merry Hill, loans powered wheelchairs, scooters and manual wheelchairs for shopping.

It has allocated car parking areas not open to the rest of the public.

Kidderminster Police, which oversees on-road parking in the town, confirmed there was an illegal parking problem despite traffic wardens issuing fixed penalty tickets.

Spokesman PC Graham Cook said: "Drivers should have consideration for other people's needs.

"Drivers can also get quite irate with the police when booked but if they follow the rules there won't be a problem.

"However, it is a two-way thing. You get able-bodied relatives of the disabled using the car so they can take advantage of spaces."

Meanwhile, Kidderminster Town Centre Partnership chairman Peter Picken said it was still fighting for a shopmobility scheme in the forthcoming KTC1 development.

However, the last response from the developer was it did not feature in its plan.