Two motorists who misused disabled blue parking badges have each appeared in court and been ordered to pay hundreds of pounds in fines and costs.

Farida Qureshi, 56, of Stroud Road, Wimbledon Park, and Martina Rovinalti, 36, of Queenstown Road, Battersea, each pleaded guilty at Lavender Hill Magistrates' Court in Battersea.

The prosecution was brought by Merton Council after the women were caught using the blue badges which did not belong to them in separate cases at Stanley Road and Compton Road in Wimbledon.

Cllr Mark Allison, of Merton Council, said: “Parking spaces are at premium in London and Blue Badges allow people who are not very mobile to park in convenient locations. So we can be fair, we have to ensure the badges are correctly used so those who need this concession, have it.”

Qureshi paid £75 for each of the four offences, plus costs, amounting to a total of £730.

Rovinalti paid £50 for each of three offences, plus costs, totalling £530.