A WOMAN visiting her husband in the cancer unit of Northwick Park Hospital was shocked to receive a £25 fine in the hospital car park, despite having displayed a blue disabled badge in her car.

Margaret Lee, 68, of Weighton Road, Harrow Weald, had left her car in an ordinary parking space near the cancer unit, as all of the dedicated spaces for disabled drivers were occupied.

Having visited her husband regularly during his stay at the hospital, Mrs Lee still drives him to and from the cancer unit up to three times a week. She said that as her blue badge usually allowed her to park free of charge, she did not expect to have to pay to park at the hospital.

"I was shocked when I realised I had to pay a fine," she said.

By paying promptly, Mrs Lee reduced the fine to £10.

The hospital's car park is managed by a private company, First Management Group, which sets the fees and the rules. A spokesman said that the driver of any car parked in an ordinary space without paying for a ticket would be fined.

"There are signs all over the car park stating it," he added.

A spokesman for the hospital said: "There is limited disabled parking here and, unfortunately, when it gets full there are no provisions for extra disabled parking. In this situation, it is just unfortunate that there was no disabled space free."

Harrow Association of Disabled People said that the disabled should not have to pay anything for parking, whether or not their vehicles were in specially allocated bays.