A BANK manager, a rest home director and two bus drivers are among seven motorists fined for using disabled blue badges.

Fines of up to £600 have been levied against drivers after they were caught illegally using parking permits meant for the disabled.

The prosecutions followed the latest round of Operation Bluebird – a crackdown by Brighton and Hove City Council, East Sussex County Council and Sussex Police to tackle blue badge fraud.

Last year the initiative won £183,000 of government funding in a bid to free up spaces for disabled people.

Bank manager Hina Patel, of Cornford Close, Portslade, was fined £600.

The 39-year-old said she was fined while waiting to pick up her disabled in-laws in a “nightmare situation” and insisted “I am not a criminal”.

Other people caught included rest home director James Lytle, 65, of Lyndhurst Road, Hove, who was fined £500.

Bus drivers Guentar Kuhn, 60, of Thornhill Rise, Portslade and Andrew Ellsey, 48, of Manor Hill, Brighton, were fined £300 and £200.

Hairdresser Laura Coppard, 44, of Ship Street, Shoreham, was fined £200.

Joanne Pearl, of Bear Road, Brighton, admitted two charges and was fined £333, while Terrie Millar, 25, of Ventnor Villas, Hove was fined £55.

There are around 13,000 blue badges in Brighton and Hove and a further 24,000 in East Sussex.

The Audit Commission estimates that 20% of blue badges are misused.

Money provided by the Department for Communities and Local Government has funded two blue badge fraud investigation officers operating across East Sussex and Brighton and Hove.

Mark Prior, head of transport at Brighton and Hove City Council, said: “These prosecutions send out a clear message that blue badge misuse is being addressed in the city.

“The blue badge scheme is intended to make sure parking spaces are available for people who genuinely need them.

"We will continue to work with Sussex Police and East Sussex County Council to crackdown on misuse of blue badges and ensure that people with disabilities can get to and enjoy everything Brighton and Hove has to offer.”