AN ELDERLY woman who received a fine after using her disabled badge for the first time fears many others may suffer the same fate.

June Cooper, 76, received a £40 parking fine after she displayed her badge the wrong way when her son dropped her off at the dentist in High Wycombe.

And Mrs Cooper, who lives in The Greenway, Tylers Green, said a number of her friends do the same and is worried many other disabled badge users may also receive fines.

Mrs Cooper, who suffers from Rheumatoid Arthritis, said: "I have asked two or three people I know and they have been displaying it the way I have, so i am not the only one but they haven't been caught.

"I thought I was using common sense, thinking they would need to have the photograph showing because they say a lot of people are using them when they shouldn't.

"I admit that I should have looked closer but I didn't."

Bucks County Council says it prints a stamp on the badge indicating which way it should face but has offered those who make the mistake a second chance.

Anne-Marie Goodbody, parking services manager at BCC, said: "We do issue a penalty display notice so they realise they have done something wrong.

"But as long as they do not keep doing it, we will cancel the penalty charge notice and say please make sure you display it the correct way."

Mrs Cooper, who is a retired office worker, is currently waiting to hear if her appeal has been successful.