CHEATS who abuse blue badge disabled parking have been caught in a police sting.

Respected professionals and council employees are among a group of 44 people trapped in the biggest ever crackdown on parking fraudsters.

A two-week purge on drivers who fraudulently use disabled parking permits took place last month.

Police officers and the Crown Prosecution Service are examining evidence and preparing cases against the drivers. The maximum penalty for the misuse of a blue badge is a £1,000 fine at court.

One woman is alleged to have used a badge every day for six months saving up to £1,200 in parking fees. Of the 44, eight were arrested on suspicion of fraud and 36 will be summoned to appear at court at a later date. In each case the badge belonged to a friend or relative of the driver.

Insp Phil Unsworth of Bolton Police said: "We have targeted the worst offenders who persistently deprive genuinely disabled users of a parking space.

"We did not know what the scale of the problem was before this operation started.

"It would appear that the abuse is widespread and transcends all ages, genders and professions.

"By working with the council and NCP a significant number of people have been arrested or will be summoned to appear at court."

Council chiefs revealed today that one in three blue badges is used illegally. They believe that hundreds of genuinely disabled motorists are struggling to park in Bolton because of soaring rates of fraud.

Some of the worst affected streets were Central Street, Back Cheapside, Le Mans Crescent and Black Horse Street.

Law-abiding drivers are now being urged to come forward and shop fraudsters on a new hotline which has been set up.

Ian Taylor, Bolton Council's head of parking services, said: "Since the end of this operation, I have been out in to the town centre and noticed a difference in the number of spaces.

"This was nothing to do with council revenue; we have a duty to provide spaces for disabled drivers and make sure that they are not abused.

"We have been aware of the situation for some time but it was only by working with the police and NCP that we have been able to work together on this scale to find out who the offenders were."

The Traffic Management Act 2004 gave traffic wardens the power to inspect blue badges.

Each permit carries photographic identity and can only be used if the badge holder is the driver or a passenger.

Jane Fulham, of Bolton Council's adult services department, which is responsible for issuing disabled badges, added: "There are about 14,000 blue badges issued and through this operation it would appear that about a third of those are being misused."

Bolton Council leader Cllr Cliff Morris said: "We welcome this operation to crack down on those who persistently abuse blue badges and take up spaces which are provided for genuine blue badge holders.

"This successful operation shows we are working effectively with our partners, the police and NCP, to take a hard line on the abuse of a system that is designed to aid people who have difficulty getting out and about in the borough."

How drivers can legitimately apply for a blue badge

Disabled drivers must apply for a blue badge to Bolton Council's adult services department and an assessment of their mobility is then made by council officers. The permit is valid for three years and must then be renewed by the same process.