A disabled woman was left horrified after being verbally abused for parking in a parent and child space.
The lady, who suffers from a spinal condition, said she had parked in the bay because there were no disabled spaces left in the car park and was shocked when an 'angry mum' called her 'selfish' and 'a lazy bit**'.
She claims she was shopping with her mum, who is also disabled, and made sure her blue badge was visible to avoid any confusion, but unfortunately, this did not stop her from being made to feel ashamed of her decision.
Taking to Mumsnet to vent her anger, she wrote: "There were no blue badge spaces free, but plenty of parent and child bays were unused. I therefore parked in one and ensured my blue badge was displayed.
"Fast forward to when we returned to my car, having pushed mum around the shop for 5 minutes or so, got her out of her wheelchair, into the car and the wheelchair in the boot, I was about on my knees myself.
"I cannot describe how difficult this is sometimes, for both of us. Anyway, before I could get myself in the car, a furious woman came over to me and lambasted me for parking in a parent-and-child space.
"She was also parked in one next to me (with her suspiciously tall teenage children in the back). I tried to explain that there were no blue badge spaces free at the time we parked but she called me all sorts of unrepeatable names and "a lazy b*tch" to boot.
"I pointed out that she and her 'children' looked quite capable of walking, she didn't have a pushchair or pram and that my mum cannot walk, which she clearly could see with the difficulty getting her into the car, but she was having none of it."
The woman said she chose not to react to what the angry mum was saying to her and let the car park quickly, however, was shocked when the same thing happened a few days later.
She said: "Once again, there were no blue badge spaces free and around a dozen parent and child spaces unoccupied. I am in a lot of pain and walking more than a few steps at a time is difficult and I needed my walker.
"So I reluctantly parked in a parent and child space, knowing that I would be little more than five minutes to pick up some medication. And yes, once again when I returned to my car, there was a young mum waiting for me by her car.
"And yes, once again I received a berating. This lady was a different model from the previous angry woman - she politely asked me if I was aware I had parked in a parent and child space.
"I was completely honest and said yes, hence why I had displayed my blue badge. Maybe I should have lied and pleaded ignorance, as at this point she changed - having ascertained I had knowingly parked here, she promptly called me selfish and said she was off to find a security officer to report me and my selfishness.
"I am more distressed, rattled and upset about these two incidents than I probably should be."
The woman went on to ask readers their thoughts on blue badge holders using parent and child spaces, saying she was hoping someone could help her understand the situation.
She added: "On both occasions, whilst being sweetly polite to these women, more than anything I wanted to scream at them to be damn thankful for what they've got and just go and enjoy it. Having a blue badge is not a choice for me, to have had children would have been - that's how I see the difference.
"I really would like to get some opinions on this emotive subject, more to try and understand the perspective of these two women."
Readers were quick to support the woman's decision to use the space.
One person said: "I'm so sorry you had such unpleasant experiences recently. I have a one-year-old and always use parent and child spaces where I can because of the wider spacing rather than the proximity to the shop but I would never in a million years have confronted someone without a child who was clearly struggling and displaying a blue badge.
"I really think some people need to use some common sense and look at the bigger picture."
Another added: "It's irritating when people without children use parent and baby spaces but someone with a disability who can't get in a blue badge space is perfectly fine to use one and should do so if necessary in my opinion."
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