Parents have been fined for using their disabled child’s blue badge permits to park in restricted spaces for free in Gloucestershire.

Four motorists were collectively fined more than £1,000 in the last two years for using their son’s or daughter’s blue badges permits, according to Gloucestershire County Council data.

Blue badges allow drivers to park for free or without a time-limit closer to their destination in otherwise restricted spaces if they are disabled.

The county council can fine people up to £1,000 for blue badge abuse, and it can even lead to a prosecution in some cases.

In total, nine people were fined for fraudulently using blue badge permits in the last two years, a Freedom of Information request submitted by the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The misuse ranged from motorists using their son’s or daughter’s blue badges, to others using their partner’s permit and one motorist was fined for using their mother-in-law’s permit.

The county council received £2,330 from the fines, but it is not clear whether any motorists were prosecuted.

Councillor Dave Norman, cabinet member for parking, said: “Blue badges are really important to help people with disabilities.

“Anyone who uses a blue badge that doesn’t belong to them is making life harder for disabled people, who are genuinely entitled to that parking space.

“If you are caught you could end up with a criminal record and a fine of up to £1,000. It is just not worth the risk.”