MOTORISTS are being warned they will be punished if they abuse a system designed to help disabled drivers.

Lewisham Council is threatening to clamp down on non-disabled drivers who use blue badges to secure parking perks intended for disabled people.

The warning comes after a 51-year-old man was caught using a blue badge which previously belonged to a Lewisham resident.

Ambrose Squibb, from East London, was fined £250 after his car was found parked displaying the blue badge in Hackney last July.

Cabinet member for resources Councillor David Whiting said: "Blue badges are an important benefit for genuinely disabled residents. People cheating the system may be preventing those in need accessing vital services and we will not tolerate such an abuse.

"We take fraud of this kind extremely seriously. Anyone caught abusing the system will be prosecuted."