HUNDREDS of disabled parking badges are unaccounted for – sparking fears they are being used illegally by drivers avoiding paying to park, a Daily Echo investigation has revealed.

Council chiefs have launched a crackdown on the cheats, hauling several before the courts where they were fined for blatantly abusing the system.

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The full two page investigation is only in today's Daily Echo.

In one case a teacher was prosecuted after helping herself to the special parking pass that was meant for use on a minibus transporting disabled pupils. A vicar was also cautioned after scanning his wife’s Blue Badge so they had a copy each.