A SOUTHAMPTON mother whose six-year-old son is disabled was given a parking ticket - because the time wheel displayed with her disabled badge had slipped down the dashboard.

Helen Murray, 35, of Minstead Avenue, Harefield, had parked her car behind Burger King in the city centre, when she was given the £30 fine.

Her car - a Vauxhall Zafira - was parked on double yellow lines, which is legal for up to three hours if a disabled badge holder displays a 'time wheel' alongside the blue badge.

But at the time the ticket was issued by the Southampton City Council parking attendant, Mrs Murray said the time wheel had shifted slightly down the dashboard.

"It had slipped to the edge of the dashboard but it was still visible," she said.

"The council claimed that because the attendant could not see the wheel next to the badge I would have to pay the fine.

"They were just being picky. They knew we were legally parked.

"It seems to me they are low on funds and trying to get them in any way possible."

Mrs Murray, whose son Spencer has a respiratory disease linked to a heart condition, said she had paid the £30 fine because to contest it could cost her even more.

"We were told we could contest it but after 28 days we would lose the right to pay £30 and could end up having to pay £60 instead," she said.

"We get disability living allowance and this money has had to come out of that. I think it is disgusting."

A spokesman for the council said: "Mrs Murray has previously received a ticket at the same location where she had displayed her blue badge with no time clock. She was given a ticket and appealed.

"We let her off but also asked her at that time, and wrote subsequently, to remind her that when she parked in future could she kindly display her time clock so that it could be clearly visible to avoid any future parking tickets.

"On the most recent occasion her time clock was again not clearly displayed."